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CNN Live Sunday

Profit May be Motive for Arizona's Wildfires

Aired June 30, 2002 - 18:02   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Prosecutors in Arizona say profit may be the motive behind the largest wildfire in that state's history. A tribal firefighter was in court today to be formally charged with arson. And our CNN's David Mattingly is in Show Low, Arizona with more on that case -- David.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, very mixed emotions among firefighters today. Everyone was very happy that an arrest was made and made so quickly. But the fact that it was a firefighter, even just a part-time firefighter, is not what anyone here expected.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY (voice-over): 29-year-old Leonard Gregg, before a federal magistrate, accused of deliberately setting fires on Apache reservation land in northern Arizona, in hopes of getting some part- time work as a firefighter. The Rodeo fire, it is called, eventually led to the biggest and costliest wildfire in Arizona's state history.

PAUL CHARLTON, U.S. ATTORNEY: The maximum penalties and charges for these offenses are five years incarceration and $250,000 fine for each charge, and restitution as owing for all losses.

MATTINGLY: According to federal officials, Gregg was trained to fight forest fires and had been hired to do so in the past by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a job that pays from $10 to $20 an hour. Gregg lives in the reservation town of Sibikou (ph), ground zero for what firefighters have come to call a monster.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It endangers the lives not only of folks that live near the woods, but endangers the lives of our firefighters. That's the thing that firefighters will take very personally.

MATTINGLY: Emotions in Arizona similar to those in Colorado, where a Forest Service employee is blamed for the devastating Hayman fire. Disbelief, anger and embarrassment for firefighters of all ethnic groups.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All those firefighters who are out there that fight fires diligently, and they fight to, you know, put the fire out.

MATTINGLY: Days after being set, the Rodeo fire merged with the Chediski fire, which started as a signal for help by an injured hiker. That investigation is ongoing. Together, the cost of destruction is staggering. Hundreds of millions in lost Apache timber alone. Millions more from hundreds of damaged and destroyed homes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: And fires today still threatening hundreds more, but firefighters are confident that the lines they have cut into the forest will stop further destruction of homes. It is still far from under control. Officials right now reporting just 35 percent containment -- Carol.

LIN: David, the tribal firefighter that's facing these charges, did he have a criminal history for arson?

MATTINGLY: If he does have a criminal history, prosecutors are not letting that information out right now. They're being very tight- lipped about any details behind this investigation. They did tell us today he was arrested and what charges he faces. Beyond that, they're waiting for further court proceedings before more information comes out.

LIN: All right, thank you very much, David Mattingly in Show Low, Arizona.

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