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Morning News

Mesa Verde Park Closed Again by Latest Fire

Aired August 7, 2000 - 10:21 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to more on the western wildfires which are roaring across the Rockies. Dozens of fires are now burning out of control. In southwestern Colorado, the Mesa Verde fire has burned more than 5,000 acres.

Our Charles Zewe is there, he joins us by phone now with the latest.

Charles, this is like a bad dream, just when they think they have this under control, they have to go and shut the park again.

CHARLES ZEWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Daryn, this is the second time this summer, as a matter of fact, second time in a month that they've had to close the park, which is considered to be one of the premier if not the premier archaeological site in the United States. Aircraft today, in fact, are going to continue dropping water and fire retardant on that wildfire which is threatening Mesa Verde Park. More than 300 firefighters, some from as far away as Alaska, have built a fire line and are protecting key buildings in the park, the second major wildfire to be touched off in the park this summer.

Research center, housing, some two million-year-old artifacts have been surrounded now with sprinklers and park officials say that should protect that building. Mesa Verde's famous cliff dwellings, meanwhile, are not in immediate danger. The fire, however, is less than five percent contained in the area, which was settled by ancestors of the Apache, Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo tribes 900 years ago. Mesa Verde has been closed to tourists again, after being re-opened on Friday for just a few hours, when the latest fire broke out. This one, like the first, caused by lightning.

If there's a silver lining in the Mesa Verde fire story, archaeologists say it's in the fact that the flames have uncovered at least a dozen and perhaps more old Indian sites that they are now exploring. Fire officials say they will continue the effort on Mesa Park structures, some minor park structures like picnic tables, restrooms, and information kiosks have been destroyed by the fire. No one, however, has been hurt. Park employees and their families have been evacuated, the park remains closed to tourists. The fire fight goes on -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Charles, tell us a little bit more about this research center that has an astounding number, two million artifacts in one place?

ZEWE: Two million-year-old artifacts.

KAGAN: Oh, two million-year-old, oh, OK.

ZEWE: There are some ceramic bowls and some pieces of bone and tools that were used by the Indians that occupied this area almost 1,000 years ago. And that is of critical importance. The cliff dwellings, which you're seeing now, have very little, if any, vegetation around them. And that's why park officials are saying they believe that there's no real danger to them. But the park, however, is being really scarred by these fires, which continue to rage.

KAGAN: Charles Zewe, reporting to us from Colorado, thank you very much.

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