>>> AS RUSSIA SETS OFF A MAJOR
ESCALATION IN UKRAINE, YOU'LL
HEAR TONIGHT FROM UKRAINE'S
FIRST LADY, OLENA ZELENSKA,
ABOUT ENDURING A TIME OF WAR.
HALF OF OUR FAMILIES ARE
SEPARATED, SHE TOLD US.
PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR
HOMES BECAUSE OF SHELLING.
THEY'RE AFRAID EVEN TO TRY TO
EVACUATE.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF DEAD,
HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN ARE DEAD.
>> CANDANCE TYLER'S WORLD WENT
UP IN FLAMES ON AUGUST 17th WHEN
THE CALDOR FIRE TORE OUT OF THE
ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST AND
BURNED THE FAMILY RANCH TO THE
GROUND.
>> WHEN YOU GOT HOT EMBERS
RAINING DOWN ON YOU AND YOUR
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES' HOUSES ARE
EXPLOETDING AND YOU'RE LISTENING
TO IT, AND THERE AIN'T NOTHING
BETWEEN HERE AND THERE TO STOP
YA, YOU KNOW YOUR FATE.
>>> YOU MIGHT THINK OF RUGBY
PLAYERS AS HUMAN BUMPER CARS,
FORWARD, BACKWARD, AND
OBLITERATING EVERYTHING IN THE
WAY.
THIS SPORT COMBINES THE
COLLISIONS OF FOOTBALL MINUS
PADS WITH THE FLUID CONTINUITY
OF BASKETBALL OR HOCKEY.
IT IS, AS THE SAYING GOES, THE
GAME FOR HOOLIGANS PLAYED BY
GENTLEMEN.
SIYA KOLISI IS THE FIRST BLACK
PLAYER TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN OF
SOUTH AFRICA'S TEAM.
IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN A
POLITICAL APPOINTMENT IN A
COUNTRY IN NEED OF REPAIR.
>>> I'M LESLEY STAHL.
>> I'M BILL WHITAKER.
>> I'M ANDERSON COOPER.
>> I'M SHARON.
>> I'M JON WERTHEIM.
>> I'M SCOTT
.
>>> IN A MAJOR ESCALATION OF THE
WAR IN EUROPE, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
VLADIMIR PUTIN ANNOUNCED FRIDAY
HE IS ANNEXING ABOUT 20% OF
UKRAINE.
THE REGION IN THE EAST AND IN
THE SOUTH IS ONLY PARTLY
CONTROLLED BY RUSSIA BECAUSE OF
A UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE. IN
A BELLIGERENT SPEECH, PUTIN
REFERRED TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND
ACCUSED THE WEST OF SATANISM.
HE VOWED THAT THE TERRITORY WILL
BE RUSSIAN FOREVER.
PRESIDENT BIDEN RESPONDED THAT
THE U.S. WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE
THE ANNEXATION AND WILL SUPPORT
UKRAINE'S MILITARY AS LONG AS IT
TAKES.
SEVEN MONTHS OF WAR HAVE BEEN
CATASTROPHIC FOR UKRAINIAN
FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM TURN FOR
HOPE TO OLENA ZELENSKA.
THE FIRST LADY OF UKRAINE WAS
TRAINED AS AN ARCHITECT, MADE A
LIVING AS A COMEDY WRITER, BUT
AWOKE LAST FEBRUARY TO A
TRAGEDY.
OVERNIGHT, SHE BECAME AN
AMBASSADOR, A MOURNER, AND THE
HEALER OF A NATION FIGHTING FOR
ITS LIFE.
WE MET IN THE CAPITAL, KYIV, AT
A LOCATION WE AGREED NOT TO
DISCLOSE.
THE DAY OF OUR INTERVIEW,
UKRAINE WAS FORCING A RUSSIAN
RETREAT AND EXPOSING THE HORRORS
OF THE INVASION.
WHAT HAVE THE FAMILIES OF
UKRAINE LOST?
>> HALF OUR FAMILIES ARE
SEPARATED, SHE TOLD US, BECAUSE
SOMEONE IS AT THE FRONT, SOMEONE
WENT ABROAD TO SAVE THEIR
CHILDREN, SOMEONE IS UNDER
RUSSIAN OCCUPATION.
PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR
HOMES BECAUSE OF SHELLING.
THEY'RE AFRAID TO EVEN TRY TO
EVACUATE.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF DEAD.
HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN ARE DEAD.
>> WE WERE JUST IN CHERNIHIV.
WE SAW THE SOCCER STADIUM HAD
BEEN BOMBED.
THE LIBRARY, A HOSPITAL, PUBLIC
SCHOOL NUMBER 18, PUBLIC SCHOOL
NUMBER 21.
WHAT ARE THE RUSSIANS TRYING TO
DO?
THEY TRY TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE TO
MAKE THEM RUN, TO HAVE TOWNS AND
VILLAGES EMPTY SO THEY CAN
OCCUPY THESE TERRITORIES.
>> IS IT WARFARE OR IS IT
TERRORISM?
>> DEFINITELY TERRORISM.
THE WAR IS BEING WAGED USING
MODERN MEANS, BUT FROM THE MORAL
AND ETHICAL POINT OF VIEW, IT'S
THE MIDDLE AGES.
OLENA ZELENSKA IS 44 YEARS ODD,
MARRIED 19 YEARS TO HER HUSBAND,
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY.
THEIR NAMES DIFFER BECAUSE IN
SLAVIC LANGUAGES, SURNAMES ARE
OFTEN MODIFIED BY GENDER.
WHEN WE SPOKE TO HER HUSBAND IN
EARLY APRIL, HE TOLD US HIS WIFE
AND TWO CHILDREN WERE IN HIDING,
BUT WEEKS LATER, HE DEPLOYED HIS
WIFE LIKE A WEAPON.
IN MAY, SHE SHOWED FIRST LADY
JILL BIDEN THE WAR'S HOMELESS IN
WESTERN UKRAINE.
IN JULY, SHE CAME TO WASHINGTON
AND BECAME THE FIRST FIRST LADY
TO ADDRESS THE U.S. CONGRESS.
I'M ANXIETYSKING FOR WEAPONS, SHE SAID
THEN, WEAPONS THAT WOULD NOT BE
USED TO WAGE WAR ON SOMEBODY
ELSE'S LAND BUT TO PROTECT ONE'S
HOME AND THE RIGHT TO WAKE UP
ALIVE IN THAT HOME.
WHEN WE MET, WE NOTICED WHAT
SEEMED LIKE A WEARINESS SHE WAS
DETERMINED TO IGNORE.
IT WAS THE PRICE OF THE PATH SHE
HAD CHOSEN, TO MEET HER PEOPLE,
KNOW THEIR PAIN, AND BEAR THE
WEIGHT OF EMPATHY.
WE MET A MAN IN BUCHA YESTERDAY.
HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE FLEEING
THE RUSSIAN INVASION.
THE RUSSIANS OPENED FIRE ON HIS
CAR.
HIS LEG WAS DESTROYED.
THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE.
AND HE WATCHED HIS WIFE AND
CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH.
I FIND IT HARD TO EXPRESS THE
ENORMITY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND I WONDER HOW YOU EXPRESS THE
SUFFERING OF YOUR PEOPLE?
>> I FEEL LIKE A PART OF THESE
PEOPLE.
I FEEL AS IF THIS IS MY PAIN.
THE STORIES ARE TERRIFYING AND
WE TRY TO SOMEHOW HELP THE
SURVIVORS.
YOU JUST TOLD ME THIS MAN IN
BUCHA HAD LOST HIS LEG, WELL, A
GIRL, SASHA HAS LOST HER ARM.
NOW SHE'S IN THE UNITED STATES.
I STARTED A PROGRAM WITH THE
UKRAINE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON, AND
WITH MANY AMERICAN
PHILANTHROPISTS AND AMERICAN
DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, WE FOUND
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THE GIRL
AN ARTIFICIAL PROSTHESES.
BUT EVERY TIME SHE LOOKS AT HER
HANDS, SHE WILL SEE WHAT SHE HAS
LOST.
SASHA WILL ALWAYS SEE WHAT SHE
LOST IN THIS WAR.
THE WORLD HAS WATCHED AS UKRAINE
HAS LOST ENTIRE CITIES.
NEARLY 500 HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
HAVE BEEN HIT.
SCHOOLS ARE DEVASTATED.
MRS. ZELENSKA TOLD US ABOUT 150
SCHOOLS DO NOT EXIST.
ABOUT 900 SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN
DAMAGED.
WE SAW WHAT SHE MEANS IN
CHERNIHIV, 300 MILES NORTH OF
KYIV.
PUBLIC SCHOOL 21 WAS USED AS A
SHELTER WHEN A RUSSIAN BOMB
STRUCK.
WE ASKED SOME OF THOSE WHO WERE
THERE TO JOIN US.
WHY WOULD THE RUSSIANS BOMB A
SCHOOL?
THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TOLD US I
THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFE PLACE FOR
ALL OF US.
WE EVEN WROTE THE WORD CHILDREN
ON THE WINDOWS.
THIS IS PRINCIPAL LEVCHENKO WHO
LOST VISION IN ONE EYE.
MY FACE AND MY EAR WERE INJURED,
MY HEAD AND MY RIGHT ARM WERE
CUT WITH SOME FRAGMENTS.
A MAN CAME OVER AND HELPED ME UP
AND TOOK ME TO A CAR THAT DROVE
US TO THE HOSPITAL.
WHEN HE HELPED ME STAND UP, I
ASKED HIM ABOUT THE -- SHE
COULDN'T QUITE SAY THE WORD,
CHILDREN.
CHILDREN WERE WOUNDED.
BUT SEVEN ADULTS WERE KILLED.
ANOTHER BOMB HIT VALENTYNA
VASYLCHENKO HOME.
MY GRANDSON'S HEART WAS STILL
BEATING.
THEY WERE GIVING HIM MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE, BUT A LOT OF TIME
WAS LOST, AND HE DIED IN THE
AMBULANCE NEAR THE HOUSE.
MY GRANDDAUGHTER, HER FIANCE, MY
DAUGHTER'S HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER
WERE FOUND DEAD IN THE RUBBLE.
PUBLIC SCHOOL 21 IN CHERNIHIV
HAD 850 STUDENTS.
HOW ARE YOU EDUCATING THE
CHILDREN OF UKRAINE TODAY?
>> AROUND 3,500 SCHOOLS WILL
OPERATE ONLINE ONLY BECAUSE
SCHOOLS CANNOT RECEIVE STUDENTS
AND BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE
AFRAID TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO
SCHOOL.
UKRAINE'S CHILDREN WENT TO
SCHOOL THIS YEAR, AND THE FIRST
THING THEY LEARNED IS WHERE THE
BOMB SHELTER IS, HOW TO GET
THERE, AND WHAT TO DO IN CASE A
MISSILE STRIKES.
WE WILL FIGHT.
WE WILL NOT GIVE OUR CHILDREN
UP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN FORGIVE
THIS.
I DON'T THINK WE WILL.
AFTER THE RUSSIANS SEVERED
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES, UKRAINIANS DROPPED
MESSAGES IN THE DNIPRO RIVER,
WITH THE CURRENT AND AGAINST THE
CHANTS THEY WOULD REACH THOSE
BEHIND THE NEW IRON CURTAIN.
WE REALLY HOPE THAT OUR LOVE
LETTERS WERE RECEIVED BY SOMEONE
THERE AND THAT THEY HEAR US.
I TRULY HOPE OUR PEOPLE WILL
ENDURE.
WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP OUR
PEOPLE.
AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S THIS
IDEA OF GIVING UP TERRITORY AND
SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION, OUR
PEOPLE ARE THERE.
WE WILL NEVER BETRAY THEM.
>> THAT IS NOT NEGOTIABLE IN THE
VIEW OF YOUR GOVERNMENT?
>> I REALLY DON'T WANT TO
EXPRESS POLITICAL OPINIONS.
THAT'S NOT MY ROLE.
BUT IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE
YOU'VE BEEN ATTACKED BY BANDITS,
THEY'RE THREATENING YOU, KILLING
YOUR CHILDREN, AND SOMEONE
SUGGESTS MAYBE IT WOULD BE
BETTER TO NEGOTIATE?
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOW.
THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.
AS A CITIZEN OF UKRAINE.
OLENA ZELENSKA DATED HER FUTURE
HUSBAND IN COLLEGE.
SHE BECAME A WRITER ON
ZELENSKYY'S COMEDY SHOWS.
IN A SITCOM CALLED "SERVANT OF
THE PEOPLE," HE PLAYED A TEACHER
WHO WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF
UKRAINE.
HE TURNED PARODY INTO POWER IN
2019 WHEN HE ACTUALLY RAN AND
WON 73% OF THE VOTE.
THE ZELENSKYYS HAVE AN
18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND
9-YEAR-OLD SON.
>> ARE YOU STRONGER THAN YOU
THOUGHT YOU WERE?
>> EVERYONE HAS BECOME STRONGER.
I'M NOT UNIQUE.
YOU SURVIVE AND GOING THROUGH
TRIALS, YOU AUTOMATICALLY BECOME
STRONGER.
SO, YES, WE'RE GETTING STRONGER
BUT WILL THAT HELP US?
I HOPE SO.
>> MADAME FIRST LADY, MAY I SHOW
YOU SOME PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE
UNITED STATES?
THIS IS A PICTURE I TOOK ON
FIFTH AVENUE IN NEW YORK.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> THIS IS SAN FRANCISCO.
THIS IS A HOME IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
>> IT'S WONDERFUL.
>> THIS IS A BUMPER STICKER
WHERE I BUY MY GROCERIES.
I TOOK THIS PICTURE ON THE EAST
SIDE OF MANHATTAN.
THIS IS A BASEBALL GAME IN
DENVER, COLORADO.
>> BALLOONS.
>> AND THIS IS FROM FLORIDA AS
WELL.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE?
>> I CAN SAY I REALLY FEEL THE
SUPPORT.
WHEN I WAS IN WASHINGTON, I WAS
HANDED A SHORT LETTER WRITTEN BY
A GUY NAMED HECTOR.
HE'S A TEENAGER, 14 YEARS OLD.
HE WROTE ME A SHORT LETTER WITH
WORDS OF SUPPORT.
BY THE WAY, IF POSSIBLE AND
HECTOR SEES THIS PROGRAM, I
WOULD LIKE TO TELL HIM.
DEAR HECTOR, I REMEMBER IT.
I TOOK YOUR LETTER WITH ME TO
UKRAINE, AND IT WAS CHARMING AND
IT WAS EXTREMELY TOUCHING.
>> SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NORMAL
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT EVIL IS
AND THAT THE ATTACKER IS EVIL.
THAT IT IS NORMAL TO DEFEND YOUR
COUNTRY, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR
HOMES.
I'M SURE THAT AMERICANS
THEMSELVES ARE LIKE THAT.
>> WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
>> WE ARE DREAMING ABOUT THIS.
OVER THESE MONTHS WE'VE SEEN THE
HUMAN BEING AS THE CENTER OF
EVERYTHING.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
FROM THE AGGRESSOR.
THEY DON'T COUNT THEIR DEAD.
WE COUNT EVERY PERSON WHO DIED,
AND WE WANT EVERYONE STILL ALIVE
TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND TO HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW.
THAT'S WHAT WE DREAM ABOUT.
THAT'S HOW WE WANT TO SEE OUR
COUNTRY IN THE
>>> THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
TOWN OF GRIZZLY FLATS WAS
FOUNDED IN 1851.
PEOPLE CAME FOR THE GOLD BUT
STAYED FOR THE TREES.
LUMBER FROM LUSH FORESTS
SUPPORTED SIERRA NEVADA
FOOTHILLS TOWNS FOR DECADES.
THEN ONE AUGUST NIGHT IN 2021,
THE CALDOR FIRE ROARED OUT OF
THE ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST AND
IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES, GRIZZLY
FLATS WAS GONE.
TODAY THE COMMUNITY'S ANGER IS
STILL RAW.
MANY RESIDENTS BLAME THE U.S.
FOREST SERVICE FOR LETTING A FEW
ACRE BLAZE MORPH INTO A
MONSTROUS WILDFIRE.
IN OUR MONTHS LONG
INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND EVIDENCE
OF MISMANAGEMENT BIT FOREST
SERVICE AND CRITICS WHO SAY ITS
OUTDATED TACTICS AND OVERGROWN
LANDS HAVE LED TO MILLIONS OF
ACRES AND FOOTHILLS TOWNS
BURNING NEEDLESSLY.
WE WENT TO GRIZZLY FLATS TO SEE
FOR OURSELVES WHAT HAPPENED THAT
AUGUST NIGHT WHEN A WALL OF FIRE
RIPPED THROUGH TOWN.
>> I TOOK A COUPLE OF PICTURES
OF MY HOUSE KNOWING THAT THAT
WOULD BE THE LAST TIME I EVER
SAW IT.
>> YOU KNEW THAT?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, WHEN YOU GOT
HOT EMBERS RAINING DOWN ON YOU
AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES'
HOUSES ARE EXPLODING AND YOU'RE
LISTENING TO IT AND THERE AIN'T
NOTHING BETWEEN HERE AND THEM TO
STOP YOU, YOU KNOW YOUR FATE.
>> CANDACE TYLER'S WORLD WENT UP
IN FLAMES ON AUGUST 17th WHEN
THE CALDOR FIRE TORE OUT OF THE
ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST AND
BURNED THE FAMILY RANCH TO THE
GROUND.
SO WHERE WAS YOUR HOUSE?
>> SO RIGHT HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
OUR BEDROOM.
AND THEN OVER HERE THIS WOULD
HAVE BEEN WALKING INTO OUR
DINING ROOM.
>> THE TYLERS HAVE LIVED ON THIS
HILLTOP FOR FIVE GENERATIONS.
TODAY THEIR HOMESTEAD IS A
CHARRED HELLSCAPE, BLACKENED
TREES STAND LIKE SENTINELS OVER
A SHADOW WORLD.
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THE TYLERS
AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN HAVE
LIVED IN A TRAILER.
MORE THAN 600 HOMES NEARLY ALL
OF GRIZZLY FLATS WERE DESTROYED
IN MINUTES.
THE CALDOR FIRE WOULD BURN FOR
TWO MONTHS, SCORCHING MORE THAN
200,000 ACRES.
AND COSTING $271 MILLION TO
EXTINGUISH.
>> WHEN IT FIRST STARTED --
>> MM-HMM.
>> DID YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT
THE FOREST SERVICE WOULD HANDLE
IT, WOULD PUT IT OUT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
100%.
A 40 ACRE FIRE, YOU CAN'T PUT
THAT OUT IN THE CANYON.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I HAVE LIVED
HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, THAT'S A
STEEP, TREACHEROUS CANYON BUT
YOU'RE STILL TELLING ME YOU
DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT
THAT OUT.
IN MY OPINION, THEY DIDN'T DO
NOTHING TO PUT THAT FIRE OUT.
>> CALDOR STARTED AS A PLUME OF
SMOKE, IT WAS AUGUST 15th,
7:00 P.M.
THIS WAS FEDERAL LAND, SO THE
U.S. FOREST SERVICE WAS IN
CHARGE.
RESPONSIBLE FOR CALLING IN
FIREFIGHTERS AND RESOURCES.
WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEMS
STARTED RIGHT AWAY, MAPS WERE
OUT OF DATE, FIREFIGHTERS HAD
TROUBLE FINDING THE FIRE.
AS SHE WAS LISTENING TO HER
POLICE SCANNER, CANDACE TYLER
TOLD US HER HEART SANK.
>> THEY'RE SENDING THEM DOWN
CALDOR ROAD, IT'S BEEN WASHED
OUT FOR THREE YEARS.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET A
TANKER DOWN THERE.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE WASHOUT, IT'S
HUGE.
IT WOULD TAKE A MONDAY OF
SUNDAYS TO FILL THAT ROAD IN OR
CUT A NEW ROAD.
>> WE WENT TO SEE WHAT TYLER WAS
TALKING ABOUT, KEEPING NATIONAL
FORESTS HEALTHY INCLUDING
MAINTAINING ROADS IS A BIG PART
OF THE FOREST SERVICE'S MANDATE.
BUT WE FOUND MANY ROADS IN THE
ELDORADO FOREST WERE IMPASSABLE,
BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES AND DEEP
RUTS.
WHEN CALDOR STARTED FIRE ENGINES
HAD A COSTLY TWO-HOUR DELAY.
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS
HAPPENING.
IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A SLOW
MOTION DISASTER.
>> GRANT INGRAM ALSO WAS
LISTENING TO HIS SCANNER, A
RETIRED FIRE CAPTAIN IT 35
YEARS' EXPERIENCE, INGRAM FOUGHT
FIRES FOR THE U.S. FIRE SERVICE
AND CAL FIRE, CALIFORNIA'S STATE
AGENCY.
INGRAM INVESTIGATED THE INITIAL
SPREAD OF THE FIRE FOR THE LOCAL
FIRE DISTRICT.
HE BELIEVES THE U.S. FOREST
SERVICE MANAGEMENT TEAM BEARS
MUCH OF THE BLAME.
>> THE LEADERSHIP FAILED TO GIVE
THE TEAM ON THE GROUND WHAT THEY
NEEDED TO DO TO PUT THAT FIRE
OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER.
>> YOU FLAT OUT SAY IT WAS A
FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
THE FIRE WAS GOING TO GO.
THEN THEY FAILED TO BRING IN
ENOUGH EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES
TO MITIGATE THAT FIRE.
AND THEN THEY FAILED TO PROTECT
THE COMMUNITY OF GRIZZLY FLATS
WHEN THEY KNEW IT WAS HEADED
THAT WAY.
>> INGRAM TOLD US ONE OF THE
MOST CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS
CAME IN THE EARLY HOURS OF
AUGUST 15th WHEN THE FIRE WAS
STILL SMALL.
AT 1:43 A.M., JUST HOURS INTO
THE FIRE, THE FOREST SERVICE
SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS FOR THE
NIGHT.
WE'LL BE PULLING EVERYONE OFF
THE LINE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
READS THE DISPATCH LOG, A MINUTE
BY MINUTE ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE
THAT WE OBTAINED THROUGH THE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
THE FOREST AS MUCH AS TOLD US
CONDITIONS WERE UNSAFE AND IT
WANTED TO REASSESS.
>> WHEN I WORKED FOR OTHER
AGENCIES, WE TYPICALLY FOUGHT
FIRES AT NIGHT, THAT WAS THE
BEST TIME TO DO IT.
YET THIS FOREST SERVICE INCIDENT
COMMANDER WAS ORDERING PEOPLE TO
STOP?
>> YES.
>> TURN BACK, GO HOME.
>> RIGHT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST.
FIRE FIGHTING IS DANGEROUS, BUT
YOU DON'T CALL 911 WHEN YOU'RE A
FIREFIGHTER.
RIGHT?
YOU ARE THERE AS 911.
>> THE ORDER TO PULL OUT DIDN'T
SIT WELL WITH STATE AND LOCAL
FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAD RACED IN TO
HELP THE FOREST SERVICE.
A NUMBER OF THEM TOLD US THAT
NIGHT WAS THEIR BEST CHANCE TO
CONTAIN THE FIRE.
THEY ALSO TOLD US THEY'RE
TRAINED TO FIGHT WILDFIRES 24/7,
UNTIL THE TIRFIRE WAS OUT P NONE
WOULD GO ON CAMERA FOR FEAR OF
LOSING THEIR JOBS, SO WE AGREED
TO CONCEAL THIS FIREFIGHTER'S
IDENTITY.
>> WHEN YOU HEARD THE INCIDENT
COMMANDER SAY HE WAS PULLING OUT
AND OTHER EQUIPMENT, FIRE
ENGINES AND BULLDOZERS LEFT WITH
HIM.
>> YEP.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON
HERE?
I MEAN, LIKE, WHAT THE HELL.
WE HAVE A FIRE.
YOU HAVE TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE.
IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.
>> DID YOU KNOW THAT
THIRD-DEGREE THE POTENTIAL TO --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TURN INTO THIS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
KR
YEAH, I THINK EVERYBODY ON THAT
HILL THAT NIGHT FIGURED IF WE
DIDN'T GET AHEAD OF THIS THING
THAT NIGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE
IN TROUBLE.
>> THE FIRE SERVICE KNEW IT TOO.
THIS IS THEIR FIRE MODEL FOR
AUGUST 15th, OBTAINED THROUGH
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
THE AREA ALMOST CERTAIN TO BURN
IF NOTHING WAS DONE IS MARKED IN
RED.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BULLS EYE,
600 HOMES IN GRIZZLY FLATS.
CREDIT THAT SAME DAY, THE FOREST
SERVICE DISMISSED SOME HALF
DOZEN CAL FIRE ENGINES AND
CREWS, LETTING MOST OF THEM GO
BEFORE THEIR REPLACEMENTS
ARRIVED.
INGRAM TOLD US THAT BREAKS EVERY
RULE OF FIRE FIGHTING.
>> THE DECISION TO RELEASE THE
CAL FIRE FIREFIGHTERS EARLY,
EVEN AS THIS FIRE IS GROWING,
THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENTS
SENSE TO YOU?
>> IT MADE NO SENSE TO ME, AND
IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
>> RETIRED FIRE CAPTAIN GRANT
I
INGRAM NOW OWNS A FIRE MAPPING
BUSINESS.
HE SHOWED US WHY HE WAS ALARMED.
>> THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED AND
IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP HERE TO
GRIZZLY FLAT.
>> ON THE SECOND DAY, AUGUST
15th, THE FIRE ENGULFED 200
ACRES.
ON AUGUST 16th, 700 ACRES.
THAT NIGHT, THE WINDS IN THE
CANYON WHIPPED THE FLAMES INTO A
FRENZY, CONSUMING 11,000 ACRES.
.
FLAMES JUMPED FROM TREE TOP TO
TREETOP, PICKING UP SPEED.
THE ELDORADO FOREST WAS SO DENSE
WITH DEAD TREES AND PARCHED
UNDER BRUSH, IT WAS LIKE A PYRE
JUST WAITING FOR A MATCH.
>> NOW EVERYTHING'S ON FIRE.
IT'S ALL RAINING DOWN ON THIS
COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SITTING IN FRONT OF A
BLOW TORCH AND THEY CAN'T GET
OUCH THE WAY.
>> WE SAW THE GLOW COMING UP.
>> FROM 1/2 A MILE AWAY, RETIRED
DEPUTY FIRE CHEIEF LLOYD OGAN
COULD SEE THAT BLOW TORCH, SMELL
IT FEEL IT.
>> YOU COULD FEEL THIS WHOLE
DECK WAS RUMBLING.
>> FROM A FIRE THAT WAS FROM A
RIDGE OVER AND THAT NOISE WAS
LITERALLY LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN
COMING.
>> WE MET OGAN AT LEONI MEADOWS,
A CAMP SITE, HE TOLD US FLAMES
WERE 30 FEET ABOVE THE TREETOPS
THAT NIGHT, HISSING AND
CRACKLING.
OGAN SAID HE KNEW THEN THE
CALDOR FIRE WAS OUT OF CONTROL.
>> THE THING I STRUGGLE WITH IS
WHY WOULD ANY RESOURCES GET
RELEASED ON A FIRE THAT IS IN A
OBVIOUSLY HIGH RISK LOCATION IN
A HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENT.
I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT I WOULD
TERM AS AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO
THAT QUESTION YET.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY ANSWER TO
THAT QUESTION YET.
>> THE FOREST SERVICE SAYS ITS
RESOURCES WERE STRETCHED THIN.
THE DIXIE FIRE WHICH WOULD
BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST IN
CALIFORNIA HISTORY WAS BURNING
SAVAGELY NEARBY.
BUT RETIRED FIRE CAPTAIN GRANT
INGRAM TOLD US THERE WERE
REGIONAL CREWS AVAILABLE, AND HE
POINTED TO THE DISPATCH LOG THAT
SHOWED 12 EXTRA FIRE ENGINES
BEING CALLED UP AS THE FLAMES
WERE TEARING INTO GRIZZLY FLATS.
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THESE
FIRE ENGINES START SHOWING UP,
AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHERE WERE
THEY TWO DAYS AGO.
WHY WEREN'T THEY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF GRIZZLY FLATS
PRIOR TO THIS FIRE EVEN GETTING
THERE?
>> WHY WEREN'T THEY?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
THE FOREST SERVICE WON'T ANSWER
OUR QUESTIONS.
>> IN ALL THE RECORDS OF CALDOR,
LEONI MEADOWS STANDS OUT, AN
ISLAND OF GREEN IN A DESOLATE
WAIST LAND.
THE FIRE SKIRTED THE CAMP THANKS
TO A MASSIVE FUEL BREAK OR
BUFFER ZONE, THE CAMP HAD CUT.
RETIRED DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF LLOYD
OGAN SHOWED WHERE THEY HAD
THEREIN
THINNED THE TREES AND CLEARED
THE URN BUSH.
WHEN CALDOR HIT, THERE WAS LILT
LEFT TO FEED THEM.
THEM OGAN SHOWED US THE U.S.
FOREST SERVICE LAND NEXT TO THE
CAMP THAT HAD NOT BEEN CLEARED.
THERE, EVERYTHING BURNED.
>> THERE WAS NO MANAGEMENT ON
THE FOREST SERVICE SIDE, AND
THAT'S THE RESULT.
>> IT'S KIND OF MIND BLOWING TO
SEE ALL THAT DEVASTATION THERE
AND IT GETS TO THE PROPERTY LINE
OF THE CAMP WHERE THE LAND WAS
MANAGED AND THIS ALL SURVIVED.
IT'S ALL GREEN?
>> YEP.
>> COULD THIS HAVE BEEN
REPLICATED AROUND GRIZZLY FLATS?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S WHAT THE TRESTLE PROJECT
WAS ALL ABOUT, WAS TO DO EXACTLY
THIS, AND HAD THAT BEEN DONE,
THERE'S A HIGH PROBABILITY
GRIZZLY FLATS WOULDN'T HAVE
BURNED.
>> WOULD NOT HAVE BURNED.
>> YEP.
>> THE TRESTLE PROJECT WAS
LAUNCHED BY THE FOREST SERVICE
NINE YEARS AGO WHEN ITS OWN
RESEARCH WARNED GRIZZLY FLATS
COULD BE INCINERATED IF WILDFIRE
IGNITED THE OVERGROWN ELDORADO
FOREST.
THE AGENCY PROMISED TO CLEAN UP
THOUSANDS OF ACRES STARTING WITH
970 ACRES ON THE TOWN'S
SOUTHEAST FLANK WHERE THE FIRE
WOULD LIKELY HIT FIRST.
ALMOST A DECADE LATER, ONLY A
FRACTION OF THE WORK WAS DONE,
AND THE CALDOR FIRE WIPED OUT
GRIZZLY FLATS EXACTLY AS THE
FOREST SERVICE HAD PREDICTED.
>> WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THIS?
IT WAS PART OF THEIR PROJECT.
>> THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR
QUESTION, I THINK, IS WHY WASN'T
IT DONE.
>> RESIDENTS AREN'T THE ONLY
ONES WHO HAVE TRIED TO GET
ANSWERS FROM THE FOREST SERVICE.
WE ASKED REPEATEDLY FOR
DOCUMENTS, A COMMENT TO HAVE THE
TAXPAYER FUNDED SERVICE TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
LAST WEEK, THE FOREST SERVICE
E-MAILED US THAT IT PLANS TO
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE SCALE
OF FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS LIKE
THE TRESTLE PROJECT AND HAS
LAUNCHED A TEN-YEAR PLAN
STARTING WITH COMMUNITIES AT
IMMEDIATE RISK.
BUT THAT'S NO SOLACE FOR THE
RESIDENTS OF GRIZZLY FLATS WHO
TOLD US ANY TRUST THEY HAD IN
THE FOREST SERVICE HAS BEEN
SHATTERED.
LAST YEARS AGO CALDOR WAS ONE OF
THREE DEVASTATING FIRES IN THE
REGION THAT STARTED ON FEDERAL
LAND AND BURNED MORE THAN A
MILLION ACRES.
CANDACE TYLER FEARS UNLESS THE
FOREST SERVICE FOLLOWS THROUGH
ON THEIR PROMISES, MORE TOWNS
LIKE GRIZZLY FLATS WILL GO UP IN
FLAMES.
THE FOREST SERVICE HAS SAID THEY
DID ALL THEY COULD.
THEY THREW ALL THE RESOURCES
THEY HAD AT THE FIRE.
YOU LAUGH.
>> I LAUGH.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YOUR MAPS SAY WE'RE GOING TO
BURN.
YOUR MODELS SHOW WE'RE GOING TO
BURN.
BUT YUROU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT.
OH, YOU DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES.
THAT'S A
>>> YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO
FIND A SPORT WHERE THE CAPTAIN
MATTERS MORE THAN A DOZEN RUGBY,
IN THESE FIERCE PITCHED MATCHES,
LEADERSHIP IS AS CRITICL AS RAW
TALENT.
WHAT, AFTER ALL WAS A SCRUM, BUT
A LITERAL EXERCISE IN TEAM
BONDING.
CAPTAINCY IS MORE IMPORTANT
STILL WHEN YOUR RUGBY TEAM
REPRESENTS AN ENTIRE COUNTRY, SO
WHEN SIYA CKOLISI WAS NAMED
CAPTAIN OF THE SOUTH AFRICA
TEAM, IT MAY AS WELL HAVE MARKED
A POLITICAL POINT.
AND KOLISI HAS RESPONDED WITH A
SINGULAR APPROACH, RECONSIDERING
A MACHO SPOT AND RECOGNIZING HOW
VALUABLE RUGBY CAN BE HELPING
BIND A COUNTRY STILL WITH CRIME,
CORRUPTION AND INEQUALITY.
YOU MIGHT THINK AS RUGBY PLAYERS
AS HUMAN BUMPER CARS, RUNNING
FORWARD, PASSING BACKWARD AND
OBLITERATING EVERYTHING IN THE
WAY.
THIS SPORT COMBINES THE
COLLISIONS OF FOOTBALL MINUS
PATHS WITH THE FLUID CONTINUITY
OF BASKETBALL OR HOCKEY.
IT IS AS THE SAYING GOES, THE
GAME FOR HOOLIGANS PLAYED BY
GENTLEMEN.
>> ALWAYS CALL IT CONTROLLED
VIOLENCE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
>> CONTROLLED VIOLENCE, THAT'S
RUGBY.
>> IT'S LEGAL VIOLENCE.
IT'S LEGAL SO WE SMASH EACH
OTER ON THE FIELD, AND THEN
IT'S DONE AFTER THAT.
*
>> SIYA KOLISI IS THE FIRST
BLACK PLAYER TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN
OF SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL TEAM,
THE SPRINGBOKS, AN INTERNATIONAL
RUGBY POWER HOUSE AND NATIONAL
INSTITUTION ASSOCIATED FOR MORE
THAN A CENTURY WITH WHITE
AFRICANER RULE AND POWER.
KOLISI IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE
CHALLENGES OF TRANSFORMING THE
TEAM.
>> WE ARE HUMAN BEING BEFORE WE
ARE SPORTSMEN, YOU KNOW, AND THE
MORE WE TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, THE
MORE WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER,
THE MORE WE GET TO KNOW EACH
OTHER, AND THE MORE WE TRUST
EACH OTHER AND OPEN UP TO EACH
OTHER, THE MORE YOU GET THAT
DEEPER SENSE OF CONNECTION TO
YOUR TEAMMATE.
>> YOU'RE SAYING IF I KNOW YOUR
MOTIVATIONS, IF I KNOW YOUR
STORY WHEN WE'RE COVERED IN MUD
AND WE'RE AT THE END OF A GAME.
>> YOU THINK OF THAT BECAUSE I
DON'T WANT TO LET YOU DOWN, YOU
KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE STANDING
THERE, AND I'M TIRED, I DON'T
GIVE UP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU
WON'T DROP ME, YOU KNOW, AND YOU
KNOW WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR TOO.
>> WE WANTED TO SEE THIS ALL FOR
OURSELVES BUT WITH KOLISI
PREOCCUPIED WITH PLAYING,
RELWE
LEANED ON HIS FRIEND AND
RECENTLY RETIRED SPRINGBOK TEAM
MEAT, TENDAI MTAWARIRA, HE WAS
OUR RUGBY GUIDE AS SOUTH AFRICA
PLAYED WALES.
>> THEY HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU,
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
>> THEY HAVEN'T.
>> LESSON ONE, MAKING YOUR WAY
TO YOUR SEAT WITH A RUG BY
LEGEND YIELDS ITS OWN VERSION OF
A SCRUM.
LESSON TWO, RUGBY DEMANDS A
COMBINATION OF SPEED, POWER,
DURABILITY AND POISE, AND OF
COURSE BONE RATTLING HITS.
>> LOOK HOW HARD HE'S COMING AT
PACE.
>> HE'S GOING TO BE SORE
TOMORROW, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> GOING TO FEEL THAT IN THE
MORNING.
>> EXACTLY.
>> ANOTHER SCRUM?
MAN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT
GOES ON IN THE BOTTOM OF A PILE
THERE.
>> IT'S A DARK PLACE.
>> CAPTAIN KOLISI FEATURED
PROMINENTLY.
>> AND NOW KOLISI.
>> MAKING RUNS, DRIVING FORWARD.
>> THAT WAS A GOOD POSITION.
>> IN THE SECOND HALF OF THAT
GAME, KOLISI SCORED A TRY.
RUGBY'S EQUIVALENT OF A
TOUCHDOWN.
A BLACK CAPTAIN SCORING IN A
STADIUM FILLED WITH SOUTH
AFRICANS OF ALL COLORS.
HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
>> YOU GREW UP DURING APARTHEID,
WHAT ROLE DID RUGBY PLAY IN
AFRIKENER SOCIETY.
>> IT WAS OUR HOLY GRAIL.
>> WHEN FRANCOIS PIENAAR PLAYED,
BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS OFTEN
CHEERED THE OPPOSING TEAM, WHEN
NELSON MANDELA BECAME PRESIDENT
IN 1994, IN AN EFFORT TO UNITE
THE COUNTRY, HE THREW HIS
SUPPORT AND MORAL FORCE BEHIND
THE SPRINGBOKS WHEN THEY HOSTED
THE 1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP.
IN A COUNTRY WHERE WHITES MAKE
UP JUST 13% OF THE POPULATION,
THERE WAS ONLY ONE BLACK PLAYER
ON THE TEAM.
>> UP GOES THE KICK.
>> THE SPRINGBOKS WON THE FINAL
MATCH, BEATING THEIR RIVALS, NEW
ZEALAND.
THE TRIUMPH WAS TURNED INTO THE
MOVIE "INVICTUS," MANDELA PLAYED
BY MORGAN FREEMAN, PIENAAR BY
MATT DAMON.
THIS IDEA OF USING SPORT TO
REPAIR A SOCIETY.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S AN IDEA.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A TOOL.
IT JUST DOES THAT.
>> IT JUST IS.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING, LET'S SEE
USE SPORT AND UNITE PEOPLE.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY.
THEN IT'S FALSE, CONTRIVED MADE
UP.
SPORTS IS NOT MADE UP.
>> UNSCRIPTED.
>> UNCHOREOGRAPHED.
>> GUTS, GUTS, GUTS, YOU KNOW,
AND THEN IT JUST COMES TOGETHER,
AND EVERYBODY'S THERE.
EVERYBODY'S A SHAREHOLDER.
WINNER NATIONS, TEAM RUNS OUT.
EVERYBODY'S A SHAREHOLDER IN
THAT TEAM.
EVERYBODY.
>> SIYA KOLISI WAS JUST 4 WHEN
SOUTH AFRICA WON THAT 1995 WORLD
CUP.
HE GREW UP IN THE WIND SWEPT
STREETS OF ZWIDE, OUTSIDE THE
CITY OF PORT ELIZABETH.
>> THIS IS MY STREET I USED TO
WALK TO THE SCHOOL.
>> BORN TO YOUNG UNMARRIED
PARENTS, HE SAYS HE WAS LOVINGLY
RAISED BY HIS GRANDMOTHER, MONEY
AND FOOD WERE SCARCE.
SOMETIMES ALL HE HAD BEFORE BED
WAS A GLASS OF WATER WITH SUGAR.
HE AND HIS GRANDMOTHER LICHED IN
THIS HOME WITH COUSINS, UNCLES
AND AUNTS.
SIYA SAYS HE SLEPT ON THE FLOOR
WHERE RATS RAN OVER HIM.
>> THE ONLY WATER SOURCE FOR THE
WHOLE HOUSE.
>> THIS IS WHERE YOU GOT YOUR
WATER.
>> YEAH, RIGHT HERE.
AND THIS IS THE TOILET.
IT'S WORKING NOW, BUT IT DIDN'T
WORK WHEN I LIVED HERE.
>> SOME OF HIS EARLIEST
MEMORIES, HIS BROTHER, BRUISED
AND MISSING TEETH AT THE HANDS
OF MEN.
BOTH SHE AND SIYA'S GRANDMOTHER
DIED BEFORE HE GRADUATED FROM
HIGH SCHOOL, BUT HE SAYS, IT
WASN'T AN UNHAPPY CHILDHOOD.
HE MADE DO WITH WHATEVER HE
COULD.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE TOYS.
I COULDN'T AFFORD TOYS, BUT I
HAD TO HAVE FUN.
I HAD TO ENJOY MYSELF.
WHAT DID I DO.
I FOUND A BRICK, THOUGHT IT WAS
MY CAR, I LOVED THAT BRICK.
>> THE BRICK WAS YOUR CAR.
>> I USED TO WASH IT, PARK IT,
WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.
THIS IS ALL THAT I HAD.
>> AROUND THE SAME TIME HE CAME
TO THIS FIELD, LITTERED WITH
STONES AND THORNS AND PICKED UP
HIS FIRST RUGBY BALL.
IT WAS A REFUGE FROM THE
VIOLENCE, DRUGS AND CHAOS BEYOND
THE STADIUM WALLS.
>> THIS PLACE ITSELF, IF IT
WASN'T AROUND, IF THERE WAS A
TEAM, IF THERE WASN'T SPORT AND
THE COMMUNITY OF SPORT, I DON'T
KNOW WHERE I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT
THAT POINT.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY.
I ENJOYED MYSELF.
IT INSPIRED ME, AND IT TAUGHT ME
WHO I AM.
>> THEN CAME A MAJOR PLOT POINT,
AT AGE 12, PLAYING ON THOSE
POCKED FIELDS, HE WAS SPOTTED BY
A COACH AND OFFERED A
SCHOLARSHIP TO THE ELITE MOSTLY
WHITE GREY JR. SCHOOL JUST 15
MILES AWAY.
>> AND JUST THE BUILDING, YOU
KNOW, LOOKING AT IT, I MEAN,
EVERYTHING I NEED IS HERE.
COMPARED TO WHAT I'M USED TO.
>> HE SAYS THAT FOR THE VERY
FIRST TIME HE WAS GIVEN SOCKS, A
TOOTHBRUSH, THREE MEALS A DAY,
AND HIS OWN BED.
>> THAT MUST HAVE BEEN SUCH A
CULTURE SHOCK TO YOU.
>> YEAH, IT WAS.
BUT THE TOUGHEST THING WAS WHEN
I HAD TO GO HOME ON WEEKENDS, I
WOULD GO BACK AND SLEEP ON THE
FLOOR, AND I TOLD MYSELF RIGHT
THEN THAT I'M NOT LETTING THIS
GO.
WILL NOT FAIL.
>> HE ADDED A CARAPACE OF
MUSCLE, TRAINED HARD, AND BY THE
TIME HE GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL
WAS DRAFTED TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL
RUGBY.
RACHEL SMITH, A FAN OF THE SPORT
MET SIYA WHEN SHE WAS 21.
>> SIYA WAS YOUNG AND HE WAS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A LOT, I
THINK IN HIS LIFE.
I'VE MET A LOT OF RUGBY PLAYERS
BEFORE, AND I KNOW WHAT THEY CAN
GET UP TO.
>> WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?
>> THEY'RE EVERYTHING YOU READ,
AND ASSUME, IT'S TRUE.
>> STILL, THEY STARTED DATING
AND SOON THE COUNTRY'S RACIAL
DIVISIONS WERE LAID BARE.
HE WAS ACCUSED OF SELLING OUT.
SHE OF QUOTE CONTAMINATING HER
WHITE BLOODLINE.
THEY MARRIED AND HAVE TWO
CHILDREN.
THEY ALSO ADOPTED TWO OF SIYA'S
YOUNGER HALF SIBLINGS.
BUT KOLISI ADMITS HE WASN'T
IMMUNE TO THE TRAPPINGS OF
CELEBRITY.
>> MY HEAD GOT HUGE, I SPENT THE
MONEY, BUYING SPORTS CARS,
DRIPPING EVERY WEEKEND, SPENDING
THE MONEY WITH FRIEND, AND JUST
GETTING INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT
I WOULD NEVER BE PROUD OF BUT I
WANT TO BE BETTER AND I WANT TO
LEARN.
I GO TO THERAPY, AND I GET TO
TALK TO SOMEONE, YOU KNOW.
>> CAN I STOP YOU, YOU VERY
CASUALLY MENTIONED THERAPY.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING A LOT OF
31-YEAR-OLD MEN, MUCH LESS
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES WOULD JUST
DROP INTO CONVERSATION.
>> BECAUSE IT HELPS ME HEAL.
IT HELPS ME BE BETTER.
YOU SEEK MAYBE MENTALLY OR
EMOTIONALLY, THERAPY IS YOUR
MEDICATION.
I WANT TO BE THE GENERATION OF
BLACK MEN THAT ARE THERE FOR
THEIR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THAT
ARE TELLING THE WOMAN THEY LOVE,
NOT ONLY BY WORDS, BUT ACTIONS
TOO.
>> IN 2018 WITH THE SPRINGBOKS
MIRED IN ONE OF ITS WORST EVER
STRETCHES, NEW COACHES WERE
APPOINTED AND KOLISI NAMED
CAPTAIN.
>> HE PHONED ME AND TOLD ME HE
HAD BEEN NAMED CAPTAIN, AND I
WAS JUST LIKE, WHAT, WHAT, AND
EVENTUALLY, I COULDN'T SPEAK SO
I ENDED UP HANGING UP ON HIM.
>> YOU WERE A RUGBY FAN, YOU
GRASPED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THIS?
>> I MEAN, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE,
YOU KNOW, JUST TO SEE SO MANY
SOUTH AFRICANS FEEL LIKE THEY
WERE FINALLY BEING REPRESENTED
IN THIS TEAM.
>> THEIR TEAM BEGINNING TO
RESEMBLE THE DIVERSITY OF THE
COUNTRY, THE SPRINGBOKS
UNEXPECTEDLY MADE THE 2019 WORLD
CUP FINAL HELD IN YOKOHAMA,
JAPAN.
THE NIGHT BEFORE, THE CAPTAIN
AND WIFE DISCUSSED NOT THE NEXT
DAY'S BIG MATCH BUT WHAT WOULD
ACCOMPANY VICTORY?
>> WE ALL WANT THESE BIG
MOMENTS.
IT CAN BE JUST A BIG MOMENT,
THAT'S IT, OR YOU CAN USE IT FOR
SO MUCH MORE.
HOW CAN WE USE THIS OPPORTUNITY
NOT JUST TO HELP US BUT TO HELP
OTHERS AROUND US IN OUR COUNTRY.
>> BIGGEST GAME OF YOUR CAREER.
>> YEAH.
>> NIGHT BEFORE THE GAME AND
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO ENRICH
SOUTH AFRICA.
>> THIS IS WHY I'M HERE.
THIS IS MY PURPOSE.
>> SOUTH AFRICA, ARE WORLD CUP
WINNERS IN 2019.
>> THE SPRINGBOKS WON THAT WORLD
CUP RESOUNDINGLY.
>> YOU SAID THAT VICTORY IN
YOKOHAMA IN 2019 MEANT MORE TO
SOUTH AFRICA THAN YOURS?
WHY?
>> WE HAD A BLACK WORLD CUP
WINNING CAPTAIN.
IN SOUTH AFRICA IN THE TOWNSHIPS
ACROSS THE LAND, EVERYBODY,
AGAIN, WAS PROUD.
THEY WERE WORLD CHAMPIONS AND
THAT IS WHAT SPORT DOES.
NOTHING ELSE CAN DO THAT.
>> FULFILLING THEIR PROMISE TO
USE THE MOMENT, RACHEL AND SIYA
STARTED THE KOLISI FOUNDATION.
WE ACCOMPANIED THEM ON A VISIT
TO A SHANTYTOWN OUTSIDE
CAPETOWN.
THIS FEEDING PROGRAM PROVIDES
HEALTHY MEALS FOR THOUSANDS OF
KIDS A DAY.
>> I CAN'T GIVE THEM FOOD THAT I
WOULDN'T PUT IN MY MOUTH.
>> KOLISI SAYS THE ABUSE HIS
MOTHER FACED HAS ALWAYS HAUNTED
HIM.
THE SCOURGE OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE IS ONE OF THE PILLARS
OF THE FOUNDATION'S WORK.
THEY HAND OUT WHAT THEY CALL
POWER 2 YOU PACKS, A WHISTLE,
PEPPER SPRAY AND EMERGENCY
CONTACTS.
>>WE ACTUALLY GIVE IT TO YOUNG
BOYS TO GIVE TO WOMEN IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES TO TELL THEM WHAT
IT'S ABOUT.
>> IT'S INTENTIONAL, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO JUST GIVE THESE TO THE
GIRLS AND WOMEN, YOU'RE GOING TO
GIVE THESE TO THE BOYS AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> FOR ALL OF KOLISI'S SOCIAL
AMBITIONS, HIS SIGHTS ARE FIXED
FIRMLY ON THE DEFENDING THE
WORLD CUP NEXT YEAR.
TODAY, AFFECTION FOR HIM AND THE
TEAM REMAINS AT FEVER PITCH.
REMEMBER THAT GAME WE ATTENDED
AGAINST WALES THIS PAST SUMMER,
SIYA KOLISI'S TRY, HIS TOUCHDOWN
HELD UP AS THE DECISIVE SCORE AS
SOUTH AFRICA WON THE SERIES.
THE PLAYERS WERE EXUBERANT IF
NOT A LITTLE BRUISED AND TOOK A
MUCH DESERVED VICTORY LAP.
AS FOR THE FANS, IN SUBURBS, IN
TOWNSHIPS, AND IN THE STADIUM,
THEY CELEBRATED WILDLY.
FOR THOSE FEW HOURS ON THE
PITCH, THE COUNTRY'S TROUBLES
AND DIVISIONS FADED.
AS IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH RUGBY
IN SOUTH AFRICA, IT WAS MUCH
MORE THAN A GAME.
WHAT SIYA KOLISI HOPES FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION OF SOUTH
AFRICANS.
>> I WANT THE RESOURCES TO COME
>>> THE LAST MINUTE OF 60
MINUTES IS SPONSORED BY UNITED
HEALTH CARE, GET MEDICARE WITH
MORE.
>>> HURRICANE IAN EXPLODED INTO
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WEDNESDAY
CARVING A TRAIL OF DEATH AND
DEVASTATION ACROSS THE STATE
BEFORE SLAMMING THE CAROLINAS
THIS WEEKEND.
IAN'S 150 MILE AN HOUR WINDS AND
12 FOOT STORM SURGE FLATTENED
PARTS OF FORT MYERS AND THE
SURROUNDING AREA.
IT WILL BE DAYS BEFORE
AUTHORITIES KNOW THE COST IN
LIVES AND PROPERTY.
FLORIDA INSURANCE CLAIMS COULD
BE CLOSE TO $50 BILLION.
FUELED BY WATER TEMPERATURES 2
DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO, IAN BECAME WHAT
THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
CALLS A RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING
STORM.
HURRICANES ARE NOT MORE FREQUENT
TODAY, BUT FREQUENTLY MORE
SEVERE, AND THE HURRICANE SEASON
IS FAR FROM OVER.
I'M LESLEY STAHL.
WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH
ANOTHER EDITION OF "60 MINUTES."