Wildfire in Washington Claims Four Lives
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators today are on the ground in Washington State trying to figure out if the deaths of four firefighters could have been prevented. The forest service has pulled remaining crews from the fire in Washington's North Cascade Mountains. Reinforcements are expected today. The four firefighters died when winds fanned what was a small five-acre fire into a raging inferno. Tom Craven was 30, Karen Fitzpatrick, 18, Jessica L. Johnson, 19. Deaven Weaver was 21 years old. Reporter Sally Schultz from our Seattle affiliate KIRO begins our coverage.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once we get out here we're all firefighters. When we lose somebody it tears us all up.</s>SALLY SHULTZ, KIRO TV (voice-over): This crew from Yacima is itching to get at that 30 mile fire. But many admit they are scared tonight.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's always on your mind, Always looking around, always trying to keep yourself out of those situations. Because they are dangerous and they will take lives.</s>SHULTZ: Twenty-three people trapped in a narrow canyon, winds whipping what was a small fire into an inferno. They desperately tried to pull emergency shelters over their bodies, but the flames killed four of them.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grab the corners and dive forward. Just like that.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very sorry that people died. But a lot of people made it.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A little mistake can cost lives.</s>SHULTZ: Twenty-three-year-old Christy Fiander lives near Yakima. And when she faces the flames she will be thinking about the young women from there who died, along with her two kids waiting for her at home.</s>CHRISTY FIANDER, FIREFIGHTER: It's kind of scary going up there and taking that risk and leaving my children after hearing about those girls, but I feel pretty safe with this crew, but it is pretty scary.