CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript

Interview

CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript

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COLLINS: We, of course, have been talking a lot about the station fire this morning in California. It's burned more than 120,000 acres now around Los Angeles already. And it's not even close to being contained. Thousands of firefighters are in fact working around the clock but they are facing tough terrain, harsh winds and high temperatures.

This latest fire is just adding to the big firefighting costs already racked up by the financially-strapped state. California has had to get creative as it deals with a $26 billion budget deficit. And that included the plan to release prisoners early.

California Congressman Adam Schiff is joining us now, live from Los Angeles this morning to talk a little bit about it. Congressman Schiff with us. We just want to get an idea about what you know at this point about the situation. I know you have been able to speak with the governor, the mayor and some fire officials in the area (INAUDIBLE), I believe you said. Tell us what you know.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: Well, as of this morning, 127,000 acres are affected now. Over 50 structures have been destroyed. As you know, worst of all we lost two firefighters the other day in just a devastating accident during the fire. And I think no one can see at this point where the end is. And we keep hoping every day that the next day will be better. We were benefited by some high humidity last night but that may bring on some thunderstorms today and add new fire locations.

So it's really unbelievable. Hundreds of my constituents have been evacuated and wondering if they have homes to go back to.

COLLINS: Sure.

SCHIFF: Schools throughout Los Angeles in this part of the area are closed and everyone is being affected by the air quality, which is terrible. You wake up in the morning all congested. It feels like you had a fire in your fireplace and someone didn't use the (INAUDIBLE) properly. There's smoke everywhere.

COLLINS: Yes. I have been in Colorado where there was some major wildfires a few years ago. And I know what's that like. It's painful to breathe. People, you know, they can't tell that from looking at the stunning pictures that we have and how difficult it is hour to hour specifically for the firefighters who are working so hard. I know there are thousands of them out there. How concerned are you about funding this firefight?

SCHIFF: Well, we're very concerned. The state has about $180 million set aside for the fires for the whole season. They've burned through half of that already. And as you know we're in crisis here in California. At the end of the day though we're going to make sure that the firefighters have everything they need. It's been designated a federal management assistance grant area.

So the federal government will be paying 75 percent of the costs. But that's after the fact costs. The state has to apply for it after they expend the money and as you know, we have a cash crunch in California. My fear is that the ones that ultimately are going to get hurt the most are the local communities because the state will apply, it will get reimbursed. The local governments, the local fire departments, they're going to have to apply to the state.

That's going to take some time. But at the end of the day we're going to make sure that we have all of the resources we need. And Heidi, this is one of the things that is of greatest concern - this is just the beginning of the fire season. This is much earlier than we usually see this kind of aggressive fire activity. We got a long way to go here.

COLLINS: Yes, absolutely. Hey, I know it's probably fast forwarding a bit too quickly, but people who have lost their homes already and there will likely be more of them, is there going to be any money to help rebuild because we're already tapping into a significant chunk, you know, looking forward. It will likely be pretty challenging.

SCHIFF: There is assistance for people who have been devastated both homes and businesses. I think there's an SPA program for the businesses that have been affected that has already kicked in depending on whether there's a federal declaration, there may also be assistance much greater assistance for homeowners and I think there is some assistance available through the FMAG process as well but we'll do everything that we can.

We obviously hope that people had good private insurance that will carry the bulk of the losses. But you know, we're going to be ready for our constituents and I think we're going to see as well a number of health problems as a result of these fires. People already have weakened respiratory systems so we're not through this. And one last thing, Heidi, is when the rains come, when the fires are gone and when the rains come, we could have some very serious problems as well.

COLLINS: Flooding. Yes. Boy, it's going to be tough. It's a long haul. That's for sure. Well, we appreciate your time updating us. Certainly, Representative Adam Schiff of California this morning. Thanks so much.

SCHIFF: You bet.

COLLINS: We, of course, have been getting a lot of pictures from the station fire from our i-reporters. They show us the devastation caused by this fire. We're going to take you through the best of those I-reports coming up in about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, quarantined on the first week in college is not exactly what most freshman expect when they go to school. But the H1N1 virus seems to have a particular affection for college campuses.

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