News Release

Moccasin Mesa Fire Continues to Burn

Date: August 6, 2018
Contact: Cristy Brown, 970-529-4608

The 185 acre Moccasin Mesa Fire continues to burn on Mesa Verde National Park and Ute Mountain Ute tribal land. This fire began Saturday, August 4, 2018. The Durango Type 3 Incident Command Team took over command of the fire on Sunday, August 5. There are 80 resources from multiple agencies, including National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Forest Service, State, and County working together on the incident. The fire is 5% contained, and today’s objectives are to build additional containment line and maintain a full suppression, direct attack strategy. There have been no injuries or other incidents related to the fire. Previous burned areas on Moccasin Mesa, including the Balcony House Complex (2003) and Moccasin Mesa Fire (1972) have aided in slowing the progress of the fire.
 
The park is open. Services on Chapin Mesa are not impacted, however, the Chapin Mesa Picnic Area, B Cut Parking Lot (the large parking lot near Park Point,) and areas of the Visitor and Resource Center Parking lot have been closed in order to support fire resources. Please do not stop in the roadway, allow fire personnel to have right of way, and remember drones are prohibited in Mesa Verde National Park. Please also use caution around the B Cut Parking Lot as there is heavy traffic in this area. 

We will update the park’s Facebook page regularly www.facebook.com/mesaverdenps.

-NPS-