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American Morning

Firefighters Battle Blaze in California

Aired May 29, 2001 - 10:04   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: To another problem plaguing parts of California, wildfires: A 3,500 acre blaze is burning in Susanville. That's about 80 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada. So far, 54 homes have been evacuated and some minor injuries have been reported.

Mike TeSelle from our CNN affiliate KCRA has more on the blaze.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE TESELLE, KCRA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the front line. Towering flames are right now shooting all around. This searing fire is continuing its scorching march towards Susanville.

(on camera): Adding to the problems here at the front line of the fire is the fact that these winds continue to swirl back and forth and at times are gusting up to 30 miles an hour.

UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: You should be 12 o'clock. There's a little spot we need a bucket drop on.

TESELLE (voice-over): Just after five o'clock, the scariest moment, those swirling winds surrounded CDF fire captain Bill Waters, my photographer Rob Stewart (ph) and me on three sides, all three of us alone with only a bulldozer at the front line, conditions as dry as a bone, heat like a furnace, spot fires all around with only a hovering helicopter to help.

UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: It keeps on hooking around us the way the wind's blowing.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: We do know that there is a lot of structure, protection, personnel out.

TESELLE: On the local radio station, assurances go out that CDF firefighters are on scene surrounding homes. But so far, this fire has already forced the mandatory evacuation of at least a dozen residents, residents like Stephanie Stokes (ph).

STEPHANIE STOKES, RESIDENT: To be honest with you, I'm scared.

TESELLE: The worst news of all? These conditions are summertime dry in May.

UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: It's just too early in the season, you know, before June 1 and it's already acting like this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Firefighters say the blaze is now 35 percent contained.

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