Fire on the Mesa
Tracey L. Chavis
& William R. Morris
Today’s visitors to Mesa Verde National Park see a vastly different landscape than their counterparts did decades ago. In the past ten years, fire has swept over more than half the acreage contained within the park’s boundaries. In 2000 alone, two fires encompassed more than 21,000 acres before they were contained. Fire on the Mesa examines the unique environment of Mesa Verde and the changing views of how to best protect it, taking readers inside the day-to-day struggle to combat wildland fire while protecting priceless cultural resources.
Tracey L. Chavis
Tracey L. Chavis started working for the Mesa Verde Museum Association as
assistant business manager in September 1988 and became the executive director in 2001.
The energy and adrenaline of being involved in fighting the 1989 Long Mesa fire led her to a secondary career in firefighting.
She logged hours on several subsequent fires, and by 2000 qualified to work on fires away from the park.
Having worked on fires in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, Tracey continues to broaden her knowledge of firefighting,
including taking the basic firefighting class in 2003 – a prerequisite for other jobs that interest her.
William R. Morris
During the time of the 1996 and 2000 fires at Mesa Verde National Park,
Will Morris was the Chief of Interpretation for the park, as well as the public information officer.
His knowledge of the park’s archaeological resources as well as his contacts
with the local and regional communities made him well-suited to discuss
the fires and their impacts with members of the media.
