‘This Week’ Transcript: Gov. Jerry Brown

May 18, 2014— -- Below is the rush transcript of "This Week" on May 18, 2014. It may contain errors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now on ABC's THIS WEEK -- fire emergency -- the red hot battle against raging infernos. We're live on the front lines.

Plus, California Governor Jerry Brown on the drought that could make this one of the deadliest fire seasons yet.

Firing back -- BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: She's doing great. She's in better shape than I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the Clintons versus Karl Rove in a bitter battle over Hillary's health.

Who won?

And is it a preview of 2016?

Campus alert -- the nationwide outcry about college sexual assault -- are students safe?

And celebrating a legend...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing this will be Barbara Walters of ABC News.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barbara Walters -- how she changed the view on Sundays.

From ABC News, THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS begins now.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: Good morning.

It has been a brutal week for firefighters out West, battle an unprecedented threat. There they are, just inches from the flames. The worst is over now, but the toll is high -- 25,000 acres scorched. Heartbroken families returning home, everything gone.

ABC's Bazi Kanani starts us off from San Marcos, California -- good morning, Bazi.

BAZI KANANI, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, George.

Officials expect all of the evacuated residents will be allowed to return to their homes by tonight, and unfortunately, this is what some are finding. This home one of dozens destroyed by the fast-moving fires.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KANANI (voice-over): The raging results of not enough rain -- four of the 10 wildfires tearing through San Diego County this week still not contained. Thousands of firefighters and Marines rushed to beat back the flames, 25,000 acres charred, one dead and already nearly $20 million in damage.

What's lost, for many families, is priceless. The Gilmore family in Carlsbad now digging to salvage memories.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

KANANI: Just hours before his senior prom, 18-year-old Adam recovered one of the few remaining mementos of his childhood.

ADAM GILMORE: One of the few things was a Woody little toy here. It's pretty burnt to a crisp.

KANANI: Cooler temperatures and calmer winds are helping firefighters get the upper hand, but it's just not enough to reduce the fire danger here and across the state. California's firefighting agency has responded to 1,500 fires this year, nearly double an average year. Nearly all of California in extreme drought after another winter and spring with almost no rain.

With vegetation already drying out, these exhausted firefighters may not get much rest in the hot months ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

KANANI: California fire officials are pleading the residents here to get serious about fire prevention. They say the first fire here was started by sparks from a construction vehicle -- George.

STEPHANOPOULOS: OK, Bazi.

Thanks very much.

Let's get more on this now from California governor, Jerry Brown.

Governor Brown, thank you for joining us this morning.

Is the situation under control?

GOV. JERRY BROWN (D), CALIFORNIA: Well, relatively under control you never know. It depends upon the weather today, tomorrow and next week. So, yes, it's under control for the moment. But we're in a very serious fire season, more serious than we've seen before.

So we have to watch and be very careful.