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American Morning

Washington State Fire Evacuees Set to Return Home

Aired August 20, 2001 - 11:15   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We hear that there is some news breaking now on the fire situation in the West. We're joined now by Art Wirtz, who is with the U.S. Forest Service. And he's in Leavenworth, Washington this morning.

What is the word, Mr. Wirtz?

ART WIRTZ, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: It's all good.

HARRIS: Great.

WIRTZ: It looks like we are going to be able to get some of the evacuees back in. And that should be starting in just the next hour or so.

HARRIS: What has happened? Has there been a recent break somewhere?

WIRTZ: The incident commander, county sheriff and district fire chief have been meeting through the night. They've been talking about the fire situation. And the progress that has been made, which has been significant over the last couple of days, has led them to the conclusion that the area is safe enough to start bringing the evacuees back into their their area, back into their homes. And that's really good news for us. And I know it's good news for them.

HARRIS: You know it. They've been waiting to hear this one. Now, can you tell us, give us an idea of which people or which area is going to be -- they are going to be allowed to go back in first in?

WIRTZ: I'm still getting the details of that. And the announcement was made locally here. It's a very sensitive issue. And the sheriff and the fire chief made the announcement locally. They're going to come back to the camp in just a few minutes with the details. And of that details, they will be able to relate how many people, when, and -- but it should start at least in the next few hours.

That's the information I've got right now.

HARRIS: Good deal. So that means you're actually making some headway in getting the fires contained. What is the latest on that?

WIRTZ: It's not contained right now. But they are going to do some very significant burning operations. They are going to reinforce some line with a lot of burning out. And through the night, they have looked at the area. And a lot of areas that had been a little on the iffy side are more secure.

So it's looking pretty good, and particularly this area that they've had a lot of engines in there to make sure that there's no problem with the fire coming back in. It's secure enough that they are going to move them back in.

HARRIS: That is great news. Glad to hear it.

Art Wirtz, thanks much. We appreciate that. And the word from -- you heard it from Mr. Wirtz himself. It's all good. Thanks a lot.

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