California Fire Emergency; Reporter Covers Own Home Burning
BLITZER: Someone else whose house was in Rancho Bernardo is Brian Arnold. He has four children, including a 2-month-old. But they don't have a home anymore. Brian Arnold is joining us right now. Can you -- first of all, our hearts go out to you and your family, Mr. Arnold. But what's it like?</s>BRIAN ARNOLD, LOST HOME IN FIRE: Well, you know, it's pretty tough. We left about 2:00 in the morning, we evacuated, and found out the next day what had happened. And you know, it's tough. But we have -- we have a lot of friends and family that care about us, and the family is safe. And we have insurance and we will just rebuild.</s>BLITZER: Were you near the house as it got caught up in the flames?</s>ARNOLD: No. We left about 2:00. I think it happened about 6:00. And so we were staying down at my mom's house, which is about 10 minutes away.</s>BLITZER: But everybody in the family is OK, is that right?</s>ARNOLD: Everybody is great. Yes. The kids are all good. We are staying with the mother-in-law and the father-in-law up in San Clemente, about an hour away.</s>BLITZER: Did you manage to get some mementos out of the house, some important stuff that you wanted to save?</s>ARNOLD: You know, we -- my wife and I both really didn't think it was going to be coming our way like it did. And so we grabbed a couple of things. Didn't grab nearly what we should have. We didn't grab the family albums, which is upsetting. The worst thing we left was we had a big thick book -- binder of genealogy that went back to about 1400.</s>BLITZER: Because we are showing a picture of and you your beautiful family, two boys and a little girl and your wife. Everybody seems to be OK?</s>ARNOLD: Yes, yes. We are all doing good. In fact, my wife and I were talking a few months ago. We wanted to build a bigger closet. But this isn't the way I had it planned.</s>BLITZER: So what are they saying to you now? What do you do? Obviously if you want to rebuild a home, that's going to take a while. What is the game plan?</s>ARNOLD: Well, we have got -- there is a development over next to the school that our kids go to. We live on 12 acres, which is kind of an agricultural area. And so it's about 15-minute drive right now to get the kids to school every day. And so there is a new development that went in over next to the school. So we are looking at renting a house there. If anybody out there has any ideas for us, contact me. But trying to get a house rented and get with the insurance company and...</s>BLITZER: I assume the fire insurance for the home, your homeowners policy, is going to cover if not all, at least most of the damage?</s>ARNOLD: Yes. Actually, my -- I'm with State Farm. And my rep called me about six months ago and we went over it and updated it. And so I think I'm covered. So thank goodness for that.</s>BLITZER: This is clearly not just a structure. This is your home. How many years had you been living there?</s>ARNOLD: We bought the home in</s>BLITZER: Well, our heart goes out to you and your beautiful family. Good luck, Brian Arnold. Good luck to a lot of people out there who are suffering just as you are. It's a really horrible, horrible story. Thanks very much for spending a few moments with us.</s>ARNOLD: Yes, no problem. And I wanted to add one thing that we did that really helped us was, our church recommends we keep a year's supply of food and water. And we have that. And, in fact, the garage wasn't burned. We have a garage away from the house. And so that stuff -- that stuff is there. And I would encourage anybody out there to -- you know, it's easier to get prepared when it is not an emergency. And so now we -- when we need the stuff, it's there for us.</s>BLITZER: Yes.</s>ARNOLD: And, so, we still have about a year's supply of food and stuff that we can work off of.</s>BLITZER: So, you have a positive attitude. As bad as it is, obviously, it could have been a whole lot worse.</s>BLITZER: And thank God everybody is OK in your family. Brian Arnold, thanks very much.</s>ARNOLD: Yes.</s>BLITZER: And dramatic video images are pouring in to CNN by the minute from California residents affected by the fires. Our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton, is monitoring these I-Reports coming in. Abbi, what are you seeing?</s>ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, imagine stepping out of your front door and this is the image that you are confronted with, flames rushing over the hill here. This is Doug Iberg's (ph) home in Saugus, California. This is north of Los Angeles. He says this was even more shocking for residents there because they were not under a mandated evacuation order. He said people were panicking as they were trying to get their things together and get out of this neighborhood. He himself evacuated. He said his home was fine. But four others down the block have been destroyed. It is not just the people in imminent danger of these fires that are affected. Look at the pictures of the ash that people are suffering from in Southern California. This is Oceanside, California, Brad and Joan Kelly's car. They just looked out of the front door for us and looked at the scene. They described it as raining ash. Even though they are miles from any fire, they say it smells like burning wood out there. There are so many people affected by the fires in Southern California, it is hard to keep up with the images coming in to CNN.com/ireport. But that's the place to send your images, your video, keeping safe, of course. We have also added another feature there, because hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated. There are people looking for each other. Send us your e-mail. Let us know that you are safe. We are adding all that information to the Web site -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: All right, Abbi, thanks very much. I want to go to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. She is monitoring what's happening at Camp Pendleton, a Marine base in Southern California. We are told -- we reported, Barbara, two fires on the base right now. What are you picking up?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that's right. The Marines are confirming very upsetting news. Two fires have broken out on Camp Pendleton, which is a 125,000-acre base, mainly very dry brush, a matter of very grave concern to the Marines. Firefighting units from the base are on the scene of both fires. The Marines say they are working towards containing both fires. No military housing areas are at risk, but they have moved some Marine units out of the way of the fire lines already. Of course, 60,000 Marines and their family members at Camp Pendleton under orders to be prepared to evacuate if it becomes necessary. They were told last night, pack your personal belongings, pack food and water, and be ready to go, a good deal of concern about the base. And, of course, there are more than 500 Marines that are being trained, ready to turn around and go on to the fire lines to help down a little bit further south in San Diego. So, in this situation, Wolf, the military both victim and good samaritan -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: All right, thanks, Barbara, very much. I want to go to the White House. Our correspondent Ed Henry is standing by, getting some new information right now on what President Bush is planning to do about all of this. Ed, what are you picking up?</s>ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino just confirming to CNN that, in fact, the president will be heading to California on Thursday, this sparked in part by a phone call the president had with Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday afternoon. You will remember the governor encouraging the president to come and get a firsthand look. And, of course, this administration burned so much by Hurricane Katrina, the slow response, they obviously want to show that they have learned lessons, that they want to get a firsthand look, that they want to get as much federal help to the scene as quickly as possible. The president pledging to the governor on the telephone yesterday the government would go just that, everything from the Agricultural Department providing firefighters to the Housing Department setting up something at HUD.gov that is basically helping people find emergency housing. And White House spokeswoman Dana Perino acknowledging that all of this in part sparked by Hurricane Katrina.</s>DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We did provide assets at Katrina. But there were lessons learned out of Katrina. And I think that we are applying some of those, especially when it comes to early communication, early and often communication between our staff here at the federal level and then the governor's staff and the mayor's staff.</s>HENRY: Now, Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer is jumping on the fact that the California National Guard may not be fully up to speed with all of its equipment because some of its equipment is in Iraq. Dana Perino acknowledging this is a time of war, that's a reality, but she is insisting that the president will make good on his promise to get all the federal assets to California as quickly as possible -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: A lot of pressure on the White House, on the Bush administration right now to make sure it is done right. Ed, thanks very much -- Ed Henry at the White House. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is sending a loud- and-clear message of its own about its response to the California fire emergency. FEMA officials are saying, essentially, this isn't the same team that messed up to the response to Hurricane Katrina. Listen to this.</s>HARVEY JOHNSON, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: What you are really seeing here is -- is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership and the benefit of good partnership, none of which were present in Katrina.</s>BLITZER: Let's go right to our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, for more on FEMA and the federal government -- Kelli.</s>KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and the FEMA administrator, David Paulison, are due to land in San Diego about an hour from now. They are there to get a firsthand look at a very dire situation.</s>ARENA (voice-over): It blew the flood, but the government says it is much better prepared for the fires.</s>MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: A couple of the lessons from Katrina which we have put into effect here are, first of all, planning and preparation in advance for these kinds of challenges.</s>ARENA: Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff says the administration moved quickly to declare an emergency, opening up federal coffers. State and local officials evacuated people early and efficiently. The military has committed equipment and personnel for firefighting duty. C-130s stand ready to drop fire retardant from the sky. And FEMA has moved cots, blankets, and supplies into San Diego.</s>DAVID PAULISON, DIRECTOR, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: I talked to the mayor last night personally. They were set with food and water. They have about 10,000 people in there. But we also have about 150 National Guard there to provide security. He said that the place was running extremely well.</s>ARENA: FEMA Director David Paulison is an ex-fire chief, and disaster relief experts are giving the government high marks for a quick response. But it is still early. The winds are a key factor. And fires could collide and merge. The real federal test will come after the fires are out. Mark Ghilarducci is a former California emergency official.</s>MARK GHILARDUCCI, FORMER CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY OFFICIAL: When we start seeing about rebuilding, taking care of the issues of the disaster victims, the fire victims, supporting the state and local governments in their recovery process, those are going to be really, really key federal support areas.</s>ARENA: As folks in New Orleans still struggling more than two years after Hurricane Katrina know all too well.</s>ARENA: Now, experts point out that California has a long history of dealing with natural disasters, particularly fires, and state officials do get much of the credit for the response so far -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Kelli, thanks very much. The inferno ravaging Southern California is a huge challenge on many levels for state officials, local officials, as well as for the federal government itself. Joining us now is the interior secretary, Dirk Kempthorne. He is here in THE SITUATION ROOM. You have a unique responsibility, the Department of the Interior, in dealing with this crisis out there. Explain to our viewers what you are doing.</s>DIRK KEMPTHORNE, U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR: Wolf, a lot of what we do is coordinate the federal response through the National Interagency Fire Center, located in Boise, Idaho. For example, we have 95 fire engines that are now in California. We have another 80 that are on the way from the Rocky Mountain area and other regions of the country.</s>BLITZER: How long is it going to take to get them there?</s>KEMPTHORNE: They should -- many of them will arrive today. We have 10 air tankers. We have 18 helicopters. More are on the way. But we are having minimal effect with the air attack because of these high winds.</s>BLITZER: The air tankers have the water that they are dropping on these fires. But it is hard to get close, because the winds are still as strong as they are.</s>KEMPTHORNE: That's correct. And it is not only water, though. They also use retardant. With the winds blowing, that retardant gets spread out so thin, it has no effect. So, right now, to a large extent, it is the ground crews that are attacking this fire.</s>BLITZER: So, when is the wind going to die down that will enable you guys to start seeing some progress out there?</s>KEMPTHORNE: Well, we hope later today. Late this afternoon, this evening, we hope that those winds will begin to die down. Tomorrow should be a good day that we finally can begin to really attack this from the air.</s>BLITZER: So, you guys are dealing with the actual fire, trying to stop the fire, and you are using federal assets to help. FEMA is dealing with the evacuees. Is that how you divide the federal responsibility?</s>KEMPTHORNE: That's correct. Michael Chertoff, as you pointed out, is on his way to California with the director of FEMA. We had a conference call last night with the Situation Room at the White House over this whole situation. We will have another one tonight. So, yes, it is very much a coordinated effort, as well as Chuck Conner, the acting secretary of agriculture, because of the Forest Service.</s>BLITZER: So, all of you are involved. Now, here's the bottom-line question, because a lot of us remember the disaster that followed Katrina.</s>KEMPTHORNE: Right.</s>BLITZER: The federal government didn't exactly do a great job then. How are you making sure that the federal government is doing everything that the California governor wants you to do, obviously, local and state officials want you to do, so there is no repeat performance of what happened during Katrina?</s>KEMPTHORNE: Sure. It is a new situation. It is different people that are working this. Last night, I had a personal conversation with Governor Schwarzenegger. Many of the federal officials have. The military is also included in this, NorthCom, as well as General Blum with the National Guard bureau, everybody working, everybody communicating. Last night, it was very important, where we have these Americans that are evacuees now, that there was a FEMA presence that was in place, that federal officials are in place. We have nearly 2,000 individuals that are firefighting, a community, that are now in there from the federal government. California has some of the best firefighters anywhere in the world.</s>BLITZER: And they are experienced.</s>KEMPTHORNE: But we're augmenting -- they are outstanding. But now they have a team that is in place.</s>BLITZER: Governor -- the former governor of Idaho, so, you are a former governor. You understand what Governor Schwarzenegger is going through right now, although this is an enormous crisis.</s>KEMPTHORNE: It's enormous. But I have gone through many of these as a governor. But I will tell you, Governor Schwarzenegger is on the front line, and he's doing a good job.</s>BLITZER: Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, thanks for coming in.</s>KEMPTHORNE: Thanks, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Good luck to you...</s>KEMPTHORNE: Thank you.</s>BLITZER: ... and all the men and women who are helping you. The wildfires forced California's first couple to change plans. But the first lady of California, Maria Shriver, is hosting a forum that includes some of the women who want to be the country's next first lady. Maria Shriver in THE SITUATION ROOM next to talk about the forum. She's also talking about the fires. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.