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CNN Saturday Morning News
Fire Crews Begin Another Day of Fighting Wildfires in the West
Aired August 18, 2001 - 09:00 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: Leading our news this morning, fire crews are beginning another grueling day in the intense fight against the Western wildfires. Nearly 600,000 acres have gone up in smoke across several states in the last week. The worst fires are burning in Oregon and Washington. The National Interagency Fire Center says high winds and lightning are starting new fires and making it difficult for crews to gain control.
Washington's governor says things are "really exploding," and winds are fanning flames near the popular tourist town of Leavenworth. People there are being told to be ready to evacuate on short notice.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: One tiny Oregon community knows just how those Leavenworth residents are feeling. Fires came quite close to the town of Monument this week, and residents were also warned of a possible evacuation. Firefighters there got help from the National Guard.
We get details from reporter Mark Hendricks of CNN affiliate KOIN.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK HENDRICKS, KOIN REPORTER (voice-over): Members of Salem's 1249th Engineer Battalion were up at sunrise, ready to take up hoses and shovels at the Monument fire. Some of these construction workers, engineers, and college students are no doubt worried about what they'll see on the fire lines and about what will happen when their work is done.
GEN. ALEX BERGIN, OREGON NATIONAL GUARD: It's a tough deal, and I know some of you have employer problems. You need to get the word to us so we can help you. And we're going to look at a rotational plan. I know -- I'm not sure right now, none of us are, what's going to happen with these fires. It's a very fluid situation, changes by the day, of where we'll be, how many crews we need, and how long you'll be out there.
HENDRICKS: The general also urged them to be safe and to take care of one another. Other reinforcements will go elsewhere, some of the Bridge Creek complex of fires, which threatens the towns of Uykaya (ph) and Dale. It now covers 6,200 acres.
The Alali (ph) fire still threatens campgrounds and the resort. It's burning in timber a mile north of the lake.
The giant Lakeview Complex fires now cover 180,000 acres of sage and juniper, and the Quartz (ph) fire, southwest of Ashland, remains a threat to buildings and watershed. Because of where it is, it's being fought by more than 1,600 firefighters, the biggest deployment in the region.
Many of the crews are exhausted. They've been on the line since Monday. But help is on the way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: That report from Mark Hendricks of CNN affiliate KOIN.
Two battalions of Marines and Army troops are also being trained to help fight those Western wildfires.
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