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CNN Live At Daybreak

Rain in Sydney Helping Control Bush Fires

Aired January 07, 2002 - 06:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's a different season down under, the Sydney area got rain overnight, a welcome relief for the 20,000 firefighters battling several big bush fires. More than a million acres have now been scorched.

Darren Curtis (ph) of CNN affiliate Channel 7 has more on the rain's effects.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARREN CURTIS, CHANNEL 7 (voice-over): It started as a sprinkle and had little effect. The flames of back burns turned the water into steam before it could reach the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a little dust and that's about it.

CURTIS: Through the early hours, it turned into a downpour, putting out the fires and stopping crews burning any more safety zones. But for exhausted volunteers, finally a chance to cool off. The mountain (ph) residents say it's the sweetest sound they've heard in weeks, raindrops falling on tin roofs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just lovely, yes, yes. It's like Christmas all over again.

CURTIS: It's the first rain in the Sydney area this year and the first downpour in 19 days. Homes burnt to the ground in last week's firestorm were surrounded by puddles. The rain will regenerate their gardens, but homeowners say they can't rebuild the memories and the treasures they've lost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a relief. You can see it in the people you talk to that were coming to (ph) shop this morning. They're all really relieved that it's doing extremely well, and you know, they can get on with their normal lives.

CURTIS: Four centimeters of rain overnight was enough to extinguish every fire across the mountains and the horse creek (ph). By lunchtime, the skies had cleared, and for the first time without smoke, the extent of the burnout could be seen.

Although fire crews could rest, they know the battle isn't over. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unless it rains like this for another full day, perhaps tomorrow, it'll make a difference then. But this on its own isn't enough to stop the fire.

CURTIS: The threat around Sydney has eased, but the situation is still critical on the south coast.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got to be careful because, first of all, for the people of Uribedella (ph) and the Shoal Haven (ph) there are serious fire threats continuing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Again, that was Darren Curtis of CNN affiliate Channel 7 in Sydney reporting.

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