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American Morning

In Montana, Firefighters Bracing for Windy Conditions

Aired September 03, 2001 - 12:03   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: In Montana firefighters are bracing today for windy conditions that could prove disastrous in their battle against a fast-moving wildfire. The massive fire in Glacier National Park has already consumed 48,000 acres.

Joining us with the latest from Columbia Falls is CNN's Thelma Gutierrez -- Thelma.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, right now, you are looking at a makeshift city. This is the main staging area for 1,100 firefighters who come to Montana from all over the West, and as far away as Virginia and Louisiana. They've been working nonstop. They leave at 6:00 in the morning. They return at 6:00 at night.

This is the area where the firefighters shower, eat and sleep, as you had mentioned. They are bracing for a very tough day. Here's the latest we know of the fire. So far, as you mentioned, 48,000 acres have burned in Glacier National Park. The perimeter is 52 miles around. The fire doubled in size over the weekend because of strong winds and high temperatures, but so far, there have been no mandatory evacuations in the North Fork area in the middle of the fire.

Seventeen fire engines have been set up around 3,700 homes for structure protection. A spokesperson told us right now, conditions are calm, though the winds could change all of that, and near Lake McDonald's, which is about 15 miles away, several homes are in jeopardy. Again, structure protection crews are there right now. Three structures have burned. We are told that they were outbuildings of some sort, not homes. Thankfully there have been no injuries.

This fire started on August 14th, so it has been burning for a little bit more than two weeks. Again, no injuries, 48,000 acres have burned.

Leon, back to you.

HARRIS: All right, thank you very much.

Thelma Gutierrez, reporting live for us this morning.

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