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American Morning

Fires in California Cause Evacuations, Shut Down I-80

Aired June 18, 2001 - 09:08   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: Firefighters in Northern California say a fast-moving blaze that started yesterday burned 15,000 acres by midnight. The blaze shut down Interstate 80 for a while and it triggered mandatory evacuations.

Reporter Dennis Shanahan of our affiliate KOBR has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DENNIS SHANAHAN, KOBR-TV REPORTER (voice-over): By late afternoon, a towering plume of smoke intimidates the otherwise clear sky above Truckee. A few miles east of town, flames overwhelm tree after tree, devouring a landscape known for its beauty. Rugged slopes on both sides of Interstate 80 are blackened near the state line, while the roadway is closed off to traffic. All afternoon, firefighters carry out an aggressive air attack, focusing their attention on the small town of Floriston.

JESS BAILEY, EVACUEE: We've seen a lot of fires around here but this -- but this is -- this one's different.

SHANAHAN: Evacuated residents can only watch and wait while fire crews battle the flames creeping down the mountainside toward these homes.

BAILEY: They came in and told us we had two hours, 15 minutes later they said you've got an hour, 15 minutes after that they said out, now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was moving that fast?

BAILEY: And we looked out the windows and saw the flames and made believers of all of us.

CHUCK GROOMS, EVACUEE: I was taught, you know, if we have a fire up, I'm going to stay there until the last minute. Well, the last minute was then. Wondering if I was ever going to see my house again, you know, just if this is going to be the last time I see my home or if I'm going to come back and it's going to be a pile of rubble.

SHANAHAN (on camera): By 7:00 firefighters are confident this town of Floriston is saved, but elsewhere, the fire continues to burn out of control. (voice-over): As the flames consume acre after acre of the Tahoe National Forest, wildlife struggles to find its own evacuation plan and firefighters prepare for a long, tough battle ahead.

TINA ROSE, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY: As soon as the sun comes back up tomorrow morning, we'll attack it again from the air and the ground. We'll work it real hard and, hopefully, try to get a circle around as a containment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Latest on I-80, officials do say it reopened this morning and those evacuated from their homes have been allowed to return.

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