Homann: Small Fire Could Flare Up with Hot, Dry Conditions in Colorado
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to go and focus once again on Colorado were there is an out of control wildfire in -- being called the Mesa Verde fire. Let's bring in Richard Homann, he is with the Colorado State Forest Service. Richard, thanks for joining us.</s>RICHARD HOMANN, FIRE DIVISION SUPERVISOR, COLORADO STATE FOREST SERVICE: You're quite welcome.</s>KAGAN: First, give us an idea, for those of us not in Colorado, where this fire is burning and what the status is?</s>HOMANN: Well, Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwest corner of Colorado. The current status, as of official reports last evening were -- was the fire was about 500 acres in size. Burning both in national park and outside the national park on county land and also Bureau of Land Management land.</s>KAGAN: And because of this fire, there have been evacuations of tourists in the area?</s>HOMANN: There have been the precautionary measures within the park. The park tours, some have been evacuated and the park has been closed while there is threat to the park visitors.</s>KAGAN: When we look at 500, 1,000 acres compared in scale to some of the massive fires we have seen in the west this summer, it doesn't really compare. Yet we've also seen how quickly these fires can get out of control. What's the concern there?</s>HOMANN: Well, the fuels all across Colorado are very dry, coupled with windy vents, fires can grow very fast. This particular fire was first reported at 1:00 yesterday afternoon and quickly escalated to 500 acres.</s>KAGAN: Also within this park there are ancient cliff dwellings. Are those structures, are those sites in danger?</s>HOMANN: Well, the artifacts and antiquities within the park are certainly a concern for protection. I can't say specifically if which ones, if any, are directly in the path of the fire.</s>KAGAN: OK, and just quickly as we wrap up here, what are the weather conditions there today?</s>HOMANN: Weather conditions are warm and dry. Possibility of some wind coming up. So it is a concern for the firefighters.</s>KAGAN: That could be a problem. Well, we wish you well in fighting the fire and trying to save the park, thank you very much. Richard Homann, from the Colorado State Forest Service, thanks for joining us.