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CNN Sunday Morning

National Guard Called in to Help Fight Oregon Fires

Aired August 24, 2003 - 07:05   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.


JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Time to head out West now and the battle against forest fires in Oregon. The National Guard is being called up to help more than 1,000 firefighters already working to stop the spread of two devastating fires. We get more from Hillary Hutcheson of CNN affiliate KPTV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILLARY HUTCHESON, KPTV CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This family is virtually alone in Camp Sherman, but Denise Wheeler (ph) is still here. She did not evacuate her nearby home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like living in a ghost town. It's quiet. It's dark. There's nothing around.

HUTCHESON: As a rural firefighter, her need to stay is fueled by more than her professional obligation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my community. The community has given me so much. This is what I can give back.

HUTCHESON: She's keeping close eyes on her neighbor's houses. White flags out front means everyone's safely gone. And sprinkler's up top means better odds that they'll have a place to come home to.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The security that we can give them, right now it's about all they've got.

HUTCHESON: But it's been another nerve-wracking day for Camp Sherman residents as significant fire action swallowed another 1,500 acres. Local residents showed up for another fire update meeting this afternoon in Sisters. Nearly 20 summer camps and camp grounds are evacuated and the blaze is just a few miles from Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman communities.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my kids are saying now they have a story to go back to school. Nobody's going to believe that we were right in the middle of the flames, shooting up.

HUTCHESON: And the Oregon National Guard is now joined in the battle against the B&B.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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





Aired August 24, 2003 - 07:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Time to head out West now and the battle against forest fires in Oregon. The National Guard is being called up to help more than 1,000 firefighters already working to stop the spread of two devastating fires. We get more from Hillary Hutcheson of CNN affiliate KPTV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILLARY HUTCHESON, KPTV CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This family is virtually alone in Camp Sherman, but Denise Wheeler (ph) is still here. She did not evacuate her nearby home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like living in a ghost town. It's quiet. It's dark. There's nothing around.

HUTCHESON: As a rural firefighter, her need to stay is fueled by more than her professional obligation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my community. The community has given me so much. This is what I can give back.

HUTCHESON: She's keeping close eyes on her neighbor's houses. White flags out front means everyone's safely gone. And sprinkler's up top means better odds that they'll have a place to come home to.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The security that we can give them, right now it's about all they've got.

HUTCHESON: But it's been another nerve-wracking day for Camp Sherman residents as significant fire action swallowed another 1,500 acres. Local residents showed up for another fire update meeting this afternoon in Sisters. Nearly 20 summer camps and camp grounds are evacuated and the blaze is just a few miles from Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman communities.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my kids are saying now they have a story to go back to school. Nobody's going to believe that we were right in the middle of the flames, shooting up.

HUTCHESON: And the Oregon National Guard is now joined in the battle against the B&B.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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