Mesa Verde National Park Superintendent Larry Wiese Discusses the Efforts Being Made to Combat the W
NBC ID: ARCPR4KTUW | Production Unit: Today Show | Media Type: Aired Show | Media ID: NY-WTDY-20000806-0001 | Air Date(s): 08/06/2000 | Event Date(s): 08/06/2000Transcript
Event Date(s): 08/06/2000 | Event Location(s): Mesa Verde National Park;Today New York Studio; | Description: 8:06:12 (:07) Graphic header"Mesa Verde Fire" over graphic map of Nevada, Utah, Colorado (Mesa Verde National Park highlighted) Arizona and part of New Mexico seen. In live two-way remote interview with David Bloom in studio, Mesa Verde National Park Superintendent Larry Wiese says the fires have settled down because of cooler temperatures and that they are looking more of the same temperature for the next several days. 8:06:34 (ej=:28) Aerials of burning trees on a hillside at the Mesa Verde National Part in Colorado seen. Wiese says that there are a lot of archaeological artifacts, both natural and cultural, at risk. Wiese says that some of the archaeological sites that are endangered are most of those sites that are above ground, which include some of the large alcove sites, and a lot of the pueblo-type sites that are structures built just directly above the ground. 8:07:28 (:23) Aerials of fires in the Mesa Verde National Park seen. In vo, Wiese says that the danger to the structures is erosion. Wiese says that the fire at Mesa Verde National Park is extremely volatile, the fuel loading in the park is immense because there hasn't been a heavy fire through a lot of this forest for about four to 500 years. Wiese says that the fire is frightening for everyone and that it is hard to predict which way the fire will be going. Wiese says that a lot of the park employees have not been able to contact their families and that he wants to reassure the families that everyone is doing fine.