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American Morning

Weaverville Fire 75 Percent Contained

Aired August 30, 2001 - 11:00   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: It turns out that sparks from a car may have been what started the big wildfire in Weaverville, California. That's the word we're getting today from investigators. Right now, the fire in the Northern California town is about two-thirds contained. And hundreds of evacuees who were chased from their homes by the flames have returned.

CNN's Eric Horng is following the story. He is in Weaverville this morning -- hi, Eric.

ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, hi.

Residents in Weaverville starting their day, but it's already been a very long night for the firefighters here -- about a thousand firefighters and other personnel still battling this blaze. They say that the fire is now 75 percent contained. And they're hoping for a second day of calm winds.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): As firefighters continued to put out hot spots, residents of Weaverville took stock of those perilous hours when their town nearly succumbed to a fiery siege. The blaze forced the evacuation of two-thirds of this former mining town's 3,500 residents. Late Wednesday, they were all allowed to return home.

Frank Dye said he was surprised to find his house still standing.

FRANK DYE, WEAVERVILLE RESIDENT: We were very relieved, yes. You can see on the other side of the house, the trees are all burned about 100 yards from the house. I can't say enough about all the help of the firefighters. I am very thankful.

HORNG: But others weren't so lucky. The fire destroyed at least nine homes and three RVs, reducing household items to ash, leaving stunned residents to sift through rubble. Firefighters, however, were able to save an estimated 200 homes, battling an erratic, fast-moving fire fueled by high winds, triple-digit temperatures, and extremely dry conditions.

DAVID SHEW, FIREFIGHTER: Fuel moisture levels, the moisture inside the plants and the fuels that we have right now, are at their lowest levels that we have ever recorded since we began keeping track. HORNG: Though the threat of a flare-up remained, there were signs in Weaverville of a return to normalcy, as well as a recognition of how close this town came to disaster.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HORNG: No rain in the forecast today, but temperatures are expected to dip into the mid-90s, a welcome reprieve from the triple- digit temperatures and low humidity over the last few days. That should bode well for firefighters today still battling this blaze. Again, the fire is now 75 percent contained.

In Weaverville, California, I'm Eric Horng reporting live -- Leon, back to you.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thanks, Eric. We'll check back with you later on.

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