Indian firefighters skirt law

JULY 31, 2000

In fighting the recently contained fire in Mesa Verde National Park, Indian firefighters said they didn't alert archaeologists when they uncovered human remains.

Instead, they immediately reburied them, hoping that they wouldn't ever be uncovered for study. Archaeologists were on hand throughout the fire, to mark and map new sites uncovered as the blaze tore through the park.

Get the Story:
To Indian firefighters, Mesa Verde sacred land (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 7/31)

Related Stories:
Fires threaten Indian Country (7/31)
Mesa Verde fire nearly contained (7/28)
Rain could threaten Mesa Verde (7/27)
Mesa Verde fire slows down (7/26)
Mesa Verde fire grows, nears ruins (7/25)
Fire threatens reservation, ruins (7/24)

Relevant Links:
The Bircher Fire Site, Type I Team - www.pnw-team3.com
The Bircher Fire Site, US Forest Service - www.fs.fed.us/r2/fire/bircher
The National Interagency Fire Center - www.nifc.gov
Mesa Verde National Park - www.nps.gov/meve/