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July 7, 2008
Evening Buzz: Fighting the Flames (illegally?)
Posted: 08:42 PM ET
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Firefighter Lou Sturtevant walks back up to the road after starting a backfire Friday in Big Sur, California.
Firefighter Lou Sturtevant walks back up to the road after starting a backfire Friday in Big Sur, California.

Maureen Miller
360° Writer

What would you do if a wildfire was getting dangerously close to your home? In California, two brothers decided to fight fire with fire.  They set a controlled burn known as a "backfire" to save their 55-acre compound in Big Sur. It worked. But it didn't go over well with the authorities (AKA: the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire protection & sheriff's deputies). One brother was arrested. The other figures he's a wanted man. He's hoping he doesn't run into the authorities. Tonight, you'll hear from Micah & Ross Curtis. Do you think what they did is wrong? Or are they heroes for saving their property and possibly a nearby village?

Also tonight, we're tracking Hurricane Bertha.

The first hurricane of the 2008 season is already a category 3 storm with winds of 115 miles per hour. Will Bertha hit the U.S.? We'll have the latest.

And, the three Americans rescued from the jungles of Colombia last week are speaking out. You'll hear what they are saying about their captors.

Plus, A-Rod's lost love. The wife of the Yankee slugger is seeking a divoce. She says their marriage is "broken" because of his "extra-marital affairs".  Is the other woman Madonna (as in the Material Girl)?

Yes, a wild mix of stories for you tonight. Hope you'll join us at 10pm ET.

8 Comments
More about: Maureen Miller •  The Buzz
8 Comments
Cindy   July 7th, 2008 8:52 pm ET

I know that the Curtis brothers wanted to save their house but what they did was completely wrong. The fire that they set could have easily gotten out of control causing another huge problem for the already overworked and thinly stretched firemen and other workers.

It was great hearing from the rescued hostages finally. They seemed in great spirits and were pretty healthy looking to me. I'm looking forward to getting a more one on one talk with them on a show and maybe a book to really get to hear what all they went through.

I know the A-Rod story is sort of a big thing. But PLEASE don't spend too much time on it tonight. Because really I could care less who he is or isn't seeing. He is just another athlete that thinks that he can do as he pleases regardless of being married or not.

Cindy...Ga.

Annie Kate   July 7th, 2008 9:23 pm ET

The Curtis brothers did what the firemen have been trying to do to fight the fires – set up controlled burns to establish a perimeter where there is no fuel for the fire to exist on. Yes, it could have gotten out of hand – it does for firemen doing it too. Was it the right thing to do? I don't know but if it were my house and the firemen weren't able to do it themselves because there aren't enough of them, then I would seriously consider doing it myself.

More celebrities behaving badly – since that is so common what makes it news??

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Tracey - Boston   July 7th, 2008 9:51 pm ET

Micah & Ross Curtis: good for them. Maybe they should become firefighters??

Jim   July 7th, 2008 11:34 pm ET

You have the right to protect your home but your right ends where my property begins.

Gwen Wamsley   July 7th, 2008 11:39 pm ET

Obama has the opportunity to change the direction of the U.S.'s foreign affairs, which must happen for your country to return to its place of respect in the world.....a leader who is prepared to listen to experts and change his mind is not "inconsistent" but responsible....not stuck in the mud like McCain.

Benalto, Alberta, Canada

Diane Watson   July 8th, 2008 1:17 am ET

I hope you will take the time to examine the way the media – including you – is taking the daily McCain campaign talking points and allowing them to drive the news on the day. It's just the worst kind of bandwagon reporting with no questioning of the source of the information. Barack Obama has spent days basically saying over and over his policy in Iraq has not changed – and yet here you are again talking again about shifting policies. There are many articles now being written critizing the laziness of this reporting. Just because McCain has an attack machine locked and loaded does not mean you need to help him do his dirty work.

Bob McDearmid   July 8th, 2008 1:24 am ET

If they have not endagered others with their actions then they should be applauded. However, their actions could lead others to do the same who are less capable. The action that puts the least number of lives at risk would be the correct action to take regardless of the intensions.

Marty in Oklahoma   July 8th, 2008 5:36 am ET

When did we become a country that needs to wait on others to act? The Curtis brothers did what they thought was right. It worked. Please, America, stop the "Katrina sheep syndrome"! We don't have to wait for others to "save us"! We can do it ourselves.

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