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CNN Sunday Morning

Firefighters Gain Upper Hand on Oregon Wildfires

Aired September 07, 2003 - 07:18   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, firefighters believe they have gained an upper hand now on wildfires in Oregon, but not before thousands of acres have turned to wasteland.
We get more from Kelly Day of CNN affiliate KP-TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY DAY, KP-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eighty-eight thousand acres and counting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, the winds have gone from almost calm to up to 20 miles an hour and that's a big concern right now.

DAY: Armies of firefighters, exhausted, armed with axes, shovels, chainsaws.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's challenging. It's challenging.

DAY: Challenging but not impossible, if the winds don't kick up too much.

JERRY PAYNE, FIREFIGHTER: At least in this division and the division directly below us, we'll shut off the north and east flank of this fire, hopefully.

DAY: But the flames continue to eat up one tree at a time and in some areas the smoke is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

MATT BROYLES, FIREFIGHTER: It makes it hard to breathe. It makes your eyes burn. It makes travel on the roads a little more difficult. You'll see people with their headlights on and their hazard lights flashing.

DAY: The hope is crews can dig enough fire lines to contain even flying embers and the big concern is still Camp Sherman, where residents are waiting to go back to their homes.

PAYNE: That line is secure. But this wind will challenge it. So it's not out, but it's -- we've got line to help hold it.

DAY: And air support is helping, too. Water drops will continue to douse hot spots until the smoke clears.

JEREMIAH COBURN, FIREFIGHTER: Everybody in here is really, really working hard to try and get everything done and we can go home safe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Once again, that was Kelly Day from our affiliate KP- TV.

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 September 7, 2003 - 07:18   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, firefighters believe they have gained an upper hand now on wildfires in Oregon, but not before thousands of acres have turned to wasteland.
We get more from Kelly Day of CNN affiliate KP-TV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY DAY, KP-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eighty-eight thousand acres and counting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, the winds have gone from almost calm to up to 20 miles an hour and that's a big concern right now.

DAY: Armies of firefighters, exhausted, armed with axes, shovels, chainsaws.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's challenging. It's challenging.

DAY: Challenging but not impossible, if the winds don't kick up too much.

JERRY PAYNE, FIREFIGHTER: At least in this division and the division directly below us, we'll shut off the north and east flank of this fire, hopefully.

DAY: But the flames continue to eat up one tree at a time and in some areas the smoke is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

MATT BROYLES, FIREFIGHTER: It makes it hard to breathe. It makes your eyes burn. It makes travel on the roads a little more difficult. You'll see people with their headlights on and their hazard lights flashing.

DAY: The hope is crews can dig enough fire lines to contain even flying embers and the big concern is still Camp Sherman, where residents are waiting to go back to their homes.

PAYNE: That line is secure. But this wind will challenge it. So it's not out, but it's -- we've got line to help hold it.

DAY: And air support is helping, too. Water drops will continue to douse hot spots until the smoke clears.

JEREMIAH COBURN, FIREFIGHTER: Everybody in here is really, really working hard to try and get everything done and we can go home safe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Once again, that was Kelly Day from our affiliate KP- TV.

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