Mesa Verde Blaze Slows Firefighters from the Kern Valley Hot Shot team of Bakersville, Calif., stand on a burned hilltop looking out over the devastation caused by the Bircher fire in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, July 26.
Wildfires continue to threaten important archaeology sites.
The blaze is 25 percent contained, officials said. The fire has burned more than 18,000 acres in the park, the nation's largest archaeological preserve. A thunderstorm with wind gusts of up to 35 mph tested lines cut by some 770 firefighters. Gov. Bill Owens declared a state of disaster emergency for the fire area and dispatched about two dozen Colorado National Guard soldiers plus equipment to the scene. The declaration frees up state funding and resources to help local governments.