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American Morning

Wildfires Threaten California Homes

Aired May 30, 2001 - 11:07   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: And now to Northern California for the latest in the wildfire there, a 4,100-acre fire threatening homes near the town of Susanville. At last check of that blaze, it was about 50 percent contained. For the latest, we're joined on the phone by Don Ohrt. He is a fire information officer for the California Department of Forestry, and he is in Susanville -- Don, good morning. Thanks for joining us.

DON OHRT, FIRE INFORMATION OFFICER, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY: Good morning.

KAGAN: What's the latest you can give us?

OHRT: The latest we can give you right now -- this is as of 6:45 West Coast time. We're 60 percent contained. We have 4,253 acres. We expect containment tomorrow, Thursday, at 1800 hours, which is 6:00 in the evening.

We have a few control problems, spotting, rolling material, steep terrain. The weather is cooperating with us very good today. We are only going to have winds of six miles an hour from the southwest. The temperature is 84, 15 percent relative humidity.

We're looking pretty good. Our cost today is $2,204,000.

KAGAN: Don, some of the pictures we are looking at, it looks like those flames are close to some houses. What about structures?

OHRT: It got within a quarter mile of the city limits of Susanville. They did evacuate the hospital on the serious ill. They're making plans now to bring them back. Evacuation has been lifted. The schools are back in session today. We've had three firefighter injuries -- a broken arm, a sprained knee, and sprained wrist.

KAGAN: But so far no structures lost?

OHRT: No structures that our assessment crews can find. Our focus today will be mop up the line, prevent any hot spots picking up.

And, let's see, what else do we have here? We have 1,835 personnel on the fire at this time, 140 engines, 13 helicopters, six dozers, 65 hand crews. That means about 900 personnel, 17 water tankers. KAGAN: Don, one more question for you. We had heard that this fire might have been started by a target shooter taking practice.

OHRT: It was started by a target shooter. He has been cited. The name is, by law enforcement, is being withheld.

KAGAN: He has been cited. Could he be charged -- I mean...

OHRT: A citation was issued. So he will be charged.

KAGAN: But the expense of the $2 million fire, does that get passed on? The taxpayers will wonder about that.

OHRT: That could be passed on to him or his insurance company. That's a possibility.

KAGAN: Very...

OHRT: He will be liable civilly.

KAGAN: All right, Don Ohrt in Susanville, thank you for that update. And good luck, sir in that target date tomorrow, 6:00 p.m., of getting containment on that fire.

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