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American Morning

Fighting Colorado Fire Costs $1 Million Per Day

Aired June 11, 2002 - 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back to Colorado right now. The wind keeping the Colorado wildfire from moving much closer to Denver, but the mile-high city not out of the woods just yet.

Lilian Kim in Roxborough State Park, southwest of Denver, right near Littleton -- Lilian, good morning to you. How are things now with the sun coming up?

LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

The winds have died down and temperatures have dropped. But fire officials say the blaze could blow up again at any time depending on the weather. The cost of fighting this fire: more than $1 million a day. And so far, more than 77,000 acres have burned.

The fire moving as quickly as a mile an hour. Came alarmingly close to Denver suburbs, creating a haze over the city. Hundreds have left their homes, many more may eventually be forced out. Authorities have drawn up plans to evacuate as many as 40,000 residents. High winds, high temperatures and dry conditions are making it tough for crews battling the flames.

Firefighters say the blaze was started by an illegal campfire about 55 miles southwest of Denver. The fire is one of at least eight burning in Colorado. Now Governor Bill Owens has banned outdoor burning in state parks and national forest in Colorado in hopes of minimizing any chance of another fire.

Reporting live from Littleton, Colorado, Lilian Kim -- Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: The job is big again today. Lilian, thank you.

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