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American Morning

Today Holds Easier Going for Arizona Firefighters

Aired June 26, 2002 - 09:01   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're staring with things looking much better today for firefighters in Arizona. Just yesterday, they were worried that the town of Show Low could be consumed by fire, but our Bill Delaney is in Show Low this morning, and he has the latest -- Bill, it's very smoky behind you this morning.

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is still smoky here, Daryn, although not as bad as yesterday. You know, it's eight days since this fire started on the White Mountain Apache Reservation with very little notice. Then, Daryn, to go on to become the biggest fire in the country. Still, 370,000 acres plus. And still less than a mile from Show Low, Arizona where we are. But new words are starting to creep into the vocabulary here. Words like optimism and containment.

This fire is now five percent contained. And fire officials are optimistic that that could get better throughout the day barring sudden unpredictable winds or freakish events like strike of dry lightning. But listen to what Jim Paxon of the National Forest Service had to say here late last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM PAXON, NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE: Today was a good day for firefighters. The reason was if we're in a kitchen and we're cooking, we've got bacon grease in a skillet, and that bacon grease catches fire. If we put the lid on that skillet, it suppresses the fire. It puts it out. This inversion that we had over us all day today essentially was the lid on the skillet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DELANEY: So the smoke here, Daryn, not all bad. Thirty thousand people plus still evacuated from central Arizona though, and anxiously waiting word when they might be able to go home. I might also mention that Phoenix police have now announced a $6,000 reward for any information leading to any information about who may have started the fire. Remember, fire officials do believe this fire was set -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Six thousand dollars? That's it for a fire that has now consumed an area the size of Los Angeles? That doesn't seem like as very much.

DELANEY: It struck me as well. KAGAN: Yes.

DELANEY: It struck me as well.

KAGAN: All right. Well, Phoenix PD doing their best down there in the valley of the sun. Bill Delaney in Show Low about 100 miles away from there.

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