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CNN Sunday Morning
Arizona Wildfire Continues to Threaten Communities
Aired June 30, 2002 - 10:09 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The man arrested for intentionally starting a huge wildfire in Arizona is expected in a Flagstaff court this morning. He's accused of arson in the Rodeo fire, which joined with another blaze to produce the largest wildfire in state history.
CNNs David Mattingly is in Show Low, where thankful residents are being allowed to finally return home -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, news of the arrest and reports that a firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs might be responsible for starting this fire.
Stirring emotions in Show Low today. On a day that, otherwise, might be full of relief and gratitude. The all-clear was sounded yesterday for Show Low and six other communities. Most people returning to find their homes intact. Some, however, not so fortunate, as hundreds of homes have now been claimed by this fire.
Authorities are reporting that there is a 35 percent containment of this fire now. One area of the fire, the northwest corner of it, however, continues to rage and threaten three communities. Those communities remaining evacuated. For the rest, however, the task at hand now is getting back on with their lives. And entire towns are getting back to business.
Thelma Gutierrez has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many breakfast (ph) do we got left?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two eggs, easy-over.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Johnny Angels' (ph) restaurant in Pinetop, Arizona...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where's my waitress?
GUTIERREZ: ... it's back to business for Johnny Ainareli (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got a menu. What you see is what you get.
GUTIERREZ: At the local nursery up the street, Christopher Kengla (ph) is open for business. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been so long since I've used a cash register.
GUTIERREZ: Didi Kane (ph) is also getting ready for customers. Evacuees she hasn't seen in a week.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels great. When I found out this morning, it was wonderful news to be back in town.
GUTIERREZ: Wonderful news because businesses were closed down and hit hard during the week-long evacuation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, gosh, I'd venture to say, you know, it's 4,000 a day, is what I'm losing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, people haven't been paid in 10 days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At least $20,000 if not more.
GUTIERREZ: Chris Kengla (ph) says he could have is lost it all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this heat and dry conditions that we're having right now, one day and I'm going to lose my whole inventory.
GUTIERREZ: But if Rean Leon (ph) who's worked for Chris for 9 years, stayed behind after all the others had evacuated. He told me he walked four and a half hours through the forest, back to the nursery to water the trees and plants. He said he did it to save the jobs of five co-workers.
People here say it's all about perspective. They may have lost business, but they worry about the hundreds of others who lost their homes.
Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Show Low, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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