Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Crews Pulled From Montana Fire

Aired September 04, 2001 - 09:11   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: Turning now from Washington to the western wildfires. At least 17 large blazes are burning in eight states across the region.

One of the biggest fires is in Montana's Glacier National Park. Conditions there are so dangerous that crews have been pulled back from fire lines, and the air attacks have been grounded.

CNN's Keith Oppenheim joins us now live from Columbia Falls with the very latest. Keith?

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, it's a bustling morning here at fire camp in Columbia Falls, and the firefighters you see around me are actually going to be doing work today, working the perimeter of the fire as they did yesterday.

This fire has expanded, 52,000 acres have burned so far, a good 40 structures, including one commercial property, has been threatened, and also one area was evacuated yesterday afternoon. The long-term concern is the dry, windy conditions that will fuel this fire for a while as the fire enters a national park.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Smoky skies loom over the rippling waters of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park as tourists sit on the beach watching the threatening power of what's been called the Moose Fire.

SHARON NASH, PARK VISITOR: To me it reminds me that we're not the ones in control -- that something stronger than people exists.

OPPENHEIM: We saw firsthand the power of something stronger. Moments after taking this picture of bands of smoke and flames rising from a hillside, gusty winds intensified the fire covering our entire view of the ridge.

There are now more than a thousand firefighters digging fire lines, operating pumps and trying to stop or slow the Moose Fire's expansion.

SAM RETHERFORD, FIREFIGHTER: There's been a lot of spread -- dramatic spread. We lost a lot of control of the fire line, but we're just kind of getting back in and protecting what we need to. OPPENHEIM: Homeowners are protecting their properties with fire retardant materials, but the truth is, despite all the technology, the best answer to this forest fire is cooler, wet weather. Still, the locals and visitors to this beautiful place appreciate the bravery of the fire crews.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have a new healthy respect for what the firefighters have to go through.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My hat is off to them what they do for us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OPPENHEIM (on camera): Some good news to report, and that is there have been no major injuries for the firefighting crew or visitors to this area, and no major structures have burned. The big problem is the forecast: The outlook is extremely dry, and all the firefighters know their best help, as always, is mother nature in the form of rain, or perhaps a few weeks from now, snow.

Leon, Colleen, back to you in Atlanta.

HARRIS: All right, thanks. Keith Oppenheim reporting live.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com