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Interview With Warren Peterson
Aired October 31, 2003 - 13:01 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Some 14,000 firefighters are still on the job. Progress is dramatic in the San Bernardino Fire where crews are able to tackle blazes head on and where not a single new structure was lost overnight. CNN's Miguel Marquez is in the town of Running Springs -- Miguel.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Kyra? We have even more good news. It's been a while since we've been able to report good news. This fire, the old fire is now 25 percent contained, say the public information officers down in San Bernardino. Their big command center down there.
They also have a date when they expect full containment. This just was out from them -- November 8, they said, they expect full containment. Still a ways off.
That still means the mountain is closed. Communities like Running Springs, Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, still closed off to the public, for the most part, evacuation areas. But they are making headway, able to get in front of fire, as you said.
We want to bring someone in to talk about that, a guy who's been fighting these things. Captain Warren Peterson, with the Victorville Fire Department. One thing I want to know, how long was your first shift compared to what you're doing now?
CAPT. WARREN PETERSON, VICTORVILLE FIRE DEPT.: We're doing 12 hour shifts now. Initial shifts would have been 24, 48 hours on the line.
MARQUEZ: How are you holding up? I assume now it starts to become kind of normal. How are the first initial few days of this thing?
PETERSON: The guys that were on the crew -- on the line here, the first couple of days, would have been extremely exhausted, tired, cold. Food was hard to come by, things like that, until they got the logistics situated, to better supply everybody.
MARQUEZ: How busy have you been today? I'm noticing the difference in the demeanor. How are you guys feeling today?
PETERSON: Very good. Able to get some rest, hot chow, things are becoming more routine.
MARQUEZ: Do you feel you're on top of this thing, the fire? PETERSON: I definitely think so. They've got a good plan for the day. We're still concerned about community here in Running Springs. Still have a lot of engines up here because there's a lot of unburned area between where the fire is now and the community below us.
MARQUEZ: Is it the fire or the other concerns that you have now, snags, you know, trees that may fall down? What are your biggest concerns?
PETERSON: Obviously, still the fire here. Hazards, as far as the snags, still a lot of dead trees around, still a lot of hazards, power lines for fire crews working.
The fire below the community is still a concern. With the weather, it is a tremendous help, the moisture and cooler temperatures. Until we have a confirmed fire line below us, good holding line, we're still concerned with this community.
MARQUEZ: Thanks very much, I appreciate it.
November 8 that date, at least this point. It could move up if things continue along the path they're going. Also means these guys would probably go home around November 8, if not earlier -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Good news, Miguel. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 31, 2003 - 13:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Some 14,000 firefighters are still on the job. Progress is dramatic in the San Bernardino Fire where crews are able to tackle blazes head on and where not a single new structure was lost overnight. CNN's Miguel Marquez is in the town of Running Springs -- Miguel.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Kyra? We have even more good news. It's been a while since we've been able to report good news. This fire, the old fire is now 25 percent contained, say the public information officers down in San Bernardino. Their big command center down there.
They also have a date when they expect full containment. This just was out from them -- November 8, they said, they expect full containment. Still a ways off.
That still means the mountain is closed. Communities like Running Springs, Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, still closed off to the public, for the most part, evacuation areas. But they are making headway, able to get in front of fire, as you said.
We want to bring someone in to talk about that, a guy who's been fighting these things. Captain Warren Peterson, with the Victorville Fire Department. One thing I want to know, how long was your first shift compared to what you're doing now?
CAPT. WARREN PETERSON, VICTORVILLE FIRE DEPT.: We're doing 12 hour shifts now. Initial shifts would have been 24, 48 hours on the line.
MARQUEZ: How are you holding up? I assume now it starts to become kind of normal. How are the first initial few days of this thing?
PETERSON: The guys that were on the crew -- on the line here, the first couple of days, would have been extremely exhausted, tired, cold. Food was hard to come by, things like that, until they got the logistics situated, to better supply everybody.
MARQUEZ: How busy have you been today? I'm noticing the difference in the demeanor. How are you guys feeling today?
PETERSON: Very good. Able to get some rest, hot chow, things are becoming more routine.
MARQUEZ: Do you feel you're on top of this thing, the fire? PETERSON: I definitely think so. They've got a good plan for the day. We're still concerned about community here in Running Springs. Still have a lot of engines up here because there's a lot of unburned area between where the fire is now and the community below us.
MARQUEZ: Is it the fire or the other concerns that you have now, snags, you know, trees that may fall down? What are your biggest concerns?
PETERSON: Obviously, still the fire here. Hazards, as far as the snags, still a lot of dead trees around, still a lot of hazards, power lines for fire crews working.
The fire below the community is still a concern. With the weather, it is a tremendous help, the moisture and cooler temperatures. Until we have a confirmed fire line below us, good holding line, we're still concerned with this community.
MARQUEZ: Thanks very much, I appreciate it.
November 8 that date, at least this point. It could move up if things continue along the path they're going. Also means these guys would probably go home around November 8, if not earlier -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Good news, Miguel. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
