[Kyra Phillips, Cnn Anchor:] Zero containment, and firefighters won't even hazard a guess about when the Sawtooth wildfire might be controlled. The leading edge of the blaze is buzzing across California's Yucca Valley. Live pictures now. It's fueled by dry terrain and blustery winds. More than 17,000 acres scorched so far, including Pioneertown, home to dozens of TV and movie westerns. Evacuation centers have been set up for more than a thousand people forced to flee their homes. Livestock has been herded to safer ground. We're keeping a close watch and we're going to bring you the latest news as it continues to happen. Now, the California fires have devastated the Wild West, or at least an important piece of its history. This is what's left of Pioneertown. It was built in 1946 and became the setting of dozens of movie and TV westerns. And even though celluloid cowboys such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers have ridden into the sunset, Pioneertown remained a popular tourist spot, hosting Old West reenactments and billing itself as "How the West Was Once." Tracey Martinez is a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. She joins me now by phone. Tracey, can you bring us up to date on evacuations?
[Tracey Martinez, Public Information Officer, San Bernardino Fire Dept:] Well, right now we are evacuating in the northwest section of the Burns Canyon area. We're asking residents to evacuate. There's about 100 homes in that area, and we're asking them to evacuate through the Big Bear area. Now, that's on the north side of the fire. Then we also have on the other end of the fire towards the southwest side in the Morongo Little Morongo Canyon area about 100 residents evacuating, as well.
[Phillips:] All right. So, has anyone been injured to this point, or does it look like you're ahead of things here and you're able to get people out of there before they get into trouble?
[Martinez:] Well, unfortunately, yesterday, when the fire took off and really started spreading very quickly, two citizens received first and second-degree burns, and then we ended up having eight firefighters receive minor injuries.
[Phillips:] Wow. So, it moves that quickly.
[Martinez:] Yes, it did.
[Phillips:] Let's talk about Pioneertown, built in 1946. We even mentioned, Tracey, you know, we know this so well for old westerns and a place to go, a tourist spot, pretty much burnt to the ground from the pictures that we're seeing. Does it look as bad as the video that we're seeing? Is this just a small portion of what was damaged, or is this area pretty much wiped out?
[Martinez:] Well, there's portions of Pioneertown that got hit pretty hard. We know that we've lost 30 structures in and around Pioneertown. That could be out buildings, residents. But firefighters also saved a great many number of historical landmarks and homes and structures in that area. So, we have a damage assessment team in there now, and we hope to get people back in there to see if their residence is still standing.
[Phillips:] Well, I know being from southern California this is a pretty possible or a popular place to go, Tracey. I mean, can you just tell our viewers, give them a sense to what kind of historical landmarks we're talking about and some of the films that were shot there. Can you just sort of remind our viewers of the history?
[Martinez:] Well, there's been quite a few old western movies shot up in the area. There's been, actually, newer westerns that they're putting out. And just a lot of old movie sets, a lot of there's a restaurant up there in the Pioneertown area that has a nice dance hall, and it makes you feel like you're back in the Old West. It's got that great atmosphere. Firefighters were able to save that restaurant and several of the movie sets. And like I said, several of the residents up in the area, as well.
[Phillips:] What about the livestock, Tracey?
[Martinez:] Well, many residents just cut their livestock loose because evacuations were done so quickly. So we do have some horses out in the area. But county's animal control is up in the area trying to round up all of the all the animals and get them to shelters so we can return them to their residences.
[Phillips:] Anything that you see that you're in need of? I mean, are there enough firefighters, enough is there enough equipment to tackle this?
[Martinez:] Well, we have quite a bit of equipment on scene already and quite a bit of water. We have a lot of air attacks. We're hitting this fire with everything with everything we can without depleting resources in other areas, because the fire danger right now is extremely high.
[Phillips:] Tracey Martinez, public information officer for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. Thanks so much, Tracey. We'll continue to check in with you and stay on top of these California wildfires. Well, burying the dead, unearthing clues. Mumbai, India, a day after a string of railway bombings killed or wounded almost a thousand people. The dead, they number 200 now. And among the reported clues, timers hidden in pencils. Our Aneesh Raman joins me now on the phone. What do we know about these timers, Aneesh?
[Aneesh Raman, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, we're getting indications from police that they suspect and all of this is early at the moment in the investigation that potentially timers were in pencils aboard these trains. They are linking that and the explosives residue that they found to one known Islamic militant group within India. They are not naming names; careful not to do so yet. Careful, as well, in the aftermath of that attack. As you say today, though, Mumbai is a city moved forward. It rebounded. It's seen attacks before. Not in this magnitude in really over a decade, but its people were resilient, back on the trains, back on the streets. The city of about 16 million, 10 million of which rely on those trains to get around. It is the lifeblood of activity here. But for the families of the 185 to 200 and that death toll keeps changing that were killed in the attack, today was about cremating their dead, it was about consoling each other, and it was a moment to express anger. They felt, the ones that we met and have just returned from their homes, that there was too much chaos in the aftermath of this incident. Many were unable to find out where their relatives were in the aftermath of this attack, unable to use their phones for hours. The networks had been cut by the government. And when they did, many of the casualties were brought to overwhelmed government hospitals. Many of the injured who can afford it have now moved to private hospitals. But there was a large outpouring of support, especially by Mumbai's poor, who live in shantytowns, who came out to help those who were more affluent. The first class cargo parts is what was hit in these trains. And so, both a sense of collective spirit, but also immense tragedy here tonight Kyra.
[Phillips:] You know, you bring up a very good point, Aneesh, and that is the people there in India. I remember my trip and I was amazed by the people that had absolutely nothing that gave back and never took advantage of anything. So, you've actually been seeing this throughout this disaster.
[Raman:] We have. And, you know, Mumbai was a city that just some weeks ago had flooding, where a number of people were killed, where, again, the city came out. And they take pride and they voiced pride to me throughout the day at how this city reacted as a people, how the residents of Mumbai from the absurdly poor to the immensely rich, which covers the gamut of extremities of the people that lived here, pulled together. They were all one in the aftermath. And they had to be. They had to rely on each other. It is a city that is brimming at the seams when it comes to the amount of people that are here. And so, in that ensuing chaos after the attack, it was implausible to expect the government, the ambulances, the state-run services to get to the people who needed it. And so, it became the poor who were at the scene who helped. It became the rich who were at the scene who helped. All of that didn't matter. They were simply residents of Mumbai. So, in that they take great pride tonight Kyra.
[Phillips:] Aneesh Raman. Thanks so much. Well, raw nerves for the morning rush in Chicago, all because of trouble last night in the evening rush on a subway headed for O'Hare airport. Streets turned into triage areas as riders staggered out of a tunnel where a train somehow jumped the track and caught fire. Dozens of people were hurt, two are still in critical condition.
[Unidentified Male:] People didn't know what happened. Some people were screaming, some people were yelling, some people were telling other people to be calm. Some women were saying they were going to pass out, that they were feeling faint.
[Phillips:] Well, the NTSB is investigating, but there are no signs of foul play or terrorism. It's time for the world's economic superpowers to hold their annual get-together. President Bush is on his way to Russia now, but he's making a stop over in Germany to see one of his newest friends on the world stage. CNN's Chris Burns in Rostock, Germany, with a preview. Hey, Chris.
[Chris Burns, Cnn Correspondent:] Hi, Kyra. President Bush will be able to see how much this region has changed, former communist Eastern Germany. He arrives, flies into Rostock, to what used to be a base for Soviet MiG fighter jets. He spends the night in Haligadam. That was a swanky beach resort for the communists. And tomorrow he has a walk through memory lane with the chancellor, Angela Merkel, who used to be from this area in a town called Stralsund. At this point, since early this evening, it's been closed down as it turned into a fortress, again, as the medieval fortress it used to be. We got a chance to take a look at it before it was locked down.
[Burns:] At a 13th century town hall where couples flock to tie the knot, President Bush and Chancellor Angela Merkel aim to tighten the diplomatic knot. Stralsund is Merkel country. It's the conservative chancellor's electoral district in former communist Eastern Germany, a place to mark how far this region has come under democracy. Despite reservations about Mr. Bush's policies, the deputy mayor welcomes the president's visit. "Guantanamo will be discussed, and we were also a bit like Guantanamo here in Eastern Germany. There was also a big fence around us," he says. Nearly 17 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Port of Stralsund symbolizes the East's collapse and problematic rebirth. Though unemployment remains over 20 percent, tourism is flourishing in Stralsund. [on camera]: This small-town setting is perhaps the closest thing in Germany to a Crawford, Texas, style meeting place. And the fact Mr. Bush is spending three days here is also telling of just how close this newfound friendship is. Mr. Bush practically bounced through Germany when he met the last chancellor. [voice-over]: Though Mrs. Merkel hasn't sent any troops to Iraq, just like leftist former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, she has deployed reinforcements to Afghanistan. And she's worked closely with the president in pressuring Iran over its nuclear program. A needed friend after Mr. Bush's closest allies have dwindled or are on their way out.
[Eberhard Sandschneider, German Council On Foreign Relations:] Maybe he doesn't have many friends left, but Angela Merkel certainly grew into that position.
[Burns:] Mr. Bush may see some of his opponents here. Peace flags fly at the union office across from the town hall.
[Unidentified Female:] I don't like his ideas of changing the world in his way.
[Burns:] Some have World Cup-style red penalty cards ready for both leaders. They criticize the tight limits on planned protests.
[Christian Jax, Stralsund League:] I think that it's not what democracy means for me.
[Burns:] As usual, security will be tight for the visit. Here, frogmen practice ahead of the massive land and sea sweeps for explosives. Twelve thousand police are to be deployed. Efforts to ensure this visit is an idyllic place to build a new friendship. And very important for this bonding, especially after today's decision by the U.N. Security Council five with Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state. Plus, Germany today deciding to go ahead and take this issue on Iran's nuclear program to the Security Council for further action. That's why this meeting over the next few days is so important Kyra.
[Phillips:] Also important, this relationship with Merkel. Bush needs a new best friend.
[Burns:] Well, yes, absolutely. And what is interesting is that Mrs. Merkel is supported by much of Germany, by at least half the country. But the other half is not very happy, and that's where Mrs. Merkel is going to be watching, while walking a very tight rope, to appease not only those who support her, but those who would like to see more action taken, for instance, on Guantanamo. The social democrats who are in her government are demanding that there be a timetable. Now, you might not bet on her asking for that, but she could have some more diplomatic words about it Kyra.
[Phillips:] Chris Burns, appreciate your time. The army is making strides, police are lagging. Donald Rumsfeld's take on Iraqi security forces on his latest unannounced visit. The U.S. defense secretary met with Iraqi leaders and with U.S. troops at an airbase outside Baghdad. CNN's Barbara Starr is watching it from the Pentagon. Barbara, what's Rumsfeld telling both groups?
[Barbara Starr, Cnn Pentagon Correspondent:] Well, Kyra, the secretary meeting today in Iraq with the new prime minister, Nouri al- Maliki, and, of course, General George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, discussing a number of matters. But, as always, security tops the list, Kyra. And the secretary mainly talking about his concerns about sectarian violence. Have a listen to what he had to say.
[Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary Of Defense:] If you think about it, the sectarian violence has a purpose. The people engaged in it are not engaged in it for no reason at all. And one of the purposes there, they have in mind, probably the first and most important, is there are those who would like to see a civil war in this country. They would like they have decided that they know they can't win on the battlefield. The only way they can win, they believe, is to create anarchy and to cause the country to become a failed state so that they can then pick up the pieces and impose their will and establish a caliphate here.
[Starr:] Kyra, one of the things the secretary is talking about is what he sees, as you were mentioning, the difference between Iraqi army forces and Iraqi police forces. He believes that Iraqi army forces are making progress and are doing better. He expressed a lot of concern in his various appearances about the capabilities of Iraqi police forces. That, of course, is the segment of the Iraqi security structure where there is so much concern about militia infiltration and the role of the Shia groups, the Shia death squads, as General Casey is now calling them, that have been responsible, it is believed, for so much of the sectarian violence. By one estimate now circulating in Iraq, more than 100 people have died in Baghdad in sectarian attacks in the last few days alone. So, it just underscores how serious the issue is right now Kyra.
[Phillips:] And, Barbara, what's an interesting dynamic to watch tell me if you agree or what you noticed about what happened in parliament today but U.S. forces, the United States, President Bush getting a lot of pressure about securing Iraq. Now you saw the Iraqi prime minister really taking a beating in parliament.
[Starr:] There is a lot of concern about all of this. Of course, one of the issues in the Iraqi parliament right now is the reconciliation program. Prime Minister al-Maliki, in this reconciliation program, reaching out to Sunnis, trying to get that reconciliation process going to try and bring them into the political structure. Something that Rumsfeld believes is going to be key to reducing the violence, getting all these factions working together. But in light of many of these recent attacks, many of these alleged misconduct atrocities by U.S. troops in Iraq, some members of the Iraqi parliament now calling for much tougher rules ending that so-called immunity for U.S. troops in Iraq. Just a lot of stress and tension throughout the Iraqi political structure right now Kyra.
[Phillips:] Barbara Starr, thanks a lot. Straight ahead, even the toughest cowboy might shed a tear as a historic California town goes up in smoke. More on where the West was once as LIVE FROM continues.