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American Morning
Fire Official Discusses Plan
Aired June 27, 2002 - 08:05 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: Right now, there are 21 large wildfires burning in the United States. Already, 2.5 million acres have been blackened.
We're going to go again now to the command center responsible for coordinating the firefighting efforts. And they keep a very close watch on everything that burns.
Jeff Flock, Boise, Idaho, at the National Interagency Fire Center -- Jeff, good morning, again.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good morning to you.
This is really where it all comes together. These folks at this desk off here to my left, they are moving equipment around to the various fires. Off to my right here, these folks are moving people. They're getting requests coming in, and they're processing those requests and sending folks out.
But at this hour I want to take a look over the shoulder of Rick Ochoa, who heads the weather program here.
What are you looking at right now as we speak?
RICK OCHOA, NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER: OK, these are lightning strikes over the last 24 hours across the West.
FLOCK: This is important because, obviously, you get a lightning strike, potentially, with these dry conditions, you could set a fire off anywhere.
OCHOA: That's exactly right. Also, these thunderstorms are a hazard to firefighters out there. They're going to cause real gusty and erratic winds.
FLOCK: And these have set off fires. Over 100 -- what's it? -- 176 fires in the last 24 hours? And a lot of those, of course, get put out immediately.
OCHOA: Right.
FLOCK: But this where they start.
OCHOA: Right. That's exactly right. And this is our big concern right now.
FLOCK: Now, take me out to the Arizona fire, because that's still your biggest priority, yes?
OCHOA: That's exactly right. This is the Arizona fire here. This is the Rodeo and Chediski Fire in Arizona here, and you can kind of see the hot spots along the perimeter. In fact, this little...
FLOCK: That's heat that I'm seeing right there on your...
OCHOA: That's exactly right. This is the Chediski Fire here, and you can see the perimeter. And here's where they joined together, here in between.
FLOCK: OK. Now, take me to that California fire, because that's your newest one that's a real problem. And that has cut off traffic on 15, right?
OCHOA: That's right. And that's the main road between L.A. and Las Vegas there. It's right there.
FLOCK: Now, let me just point there: That is the smoke from that on the satellite image, correct?
OCHOA: Right. That's from yesterday afternoon coming out.
FLOCK: What's the weather like out there? What are you looking at in terms of dealing with that fire?
OCHOA: Well, there's no good news for southern California. It's going to stay hot and dry down there. We are getting a little bit of marine air, very, very shallow. But up in the mountains there it's just bone dry and very hot.
FLOCK: Now, I just want to, before we get away here, I want to take a look at the report from overnight. A hundred -- it's like 176 fires in the last 24 hours.
OCHOA: Right.
FLOCK: It's amazing to think that that many fires just break out in 24 hours.
OCHOA: Right.
FLOCK: All but three were struck out.
OCHOA: Right. And I think that's a real tribute to the firefighters that we can jump on them that fast, you know, over 170 fires. So that's a pretty good batting average.
FLOCK: OK, Rick, I appreciate the time. Thank you.
OCHOA: You're welcome.
FLOCK: I'm going to let you get back to doing what you've got to do here.
This is the war room, Bill. This is where it all comes together. And right now, of course, they're fighting on multiple fronts. We're going to be here throughout the day on CNN, giving you an up close and personal look behind the scenes.
Grateful to the folks here at the National Interagency Fire Center for this behind-the-scenes look.
That's the latest -- back to you.
HEMMER: Jeff, quickly, before we let you go here, knowing that the burning season has been so absolutely brutal so far this year, what have folks out there said based on previous years? Is some of this shocking them? Did they anticipate this at all? Was it seen back, say, in the spring months or not?
FLOCK: Well, clearly, everyone knew this was going to be extremely dry. But they really didn't have any indication it would be this bad this soon. Already, they're three times the average to this point in the year. So they're way ahead of it, and they've got to stay ahead of it, or they're going to have serious problems.
HEMMER: That's the key there, got to stay ahead of it, you're right.
Jeff, thanks.
Jeff Flock, out in Boise. We will check back in later today.
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