It is too soon to predict the full economic fallout from the fire still burning in and around Mesa Verde National Park, but it is doubtful that it will be immediately pleasant. Still, although it may be difficult to see through eyes reddened by smoke, it is unlikely to be all bad.

The natural fear is that Southwest Colorado’s tourist-based businesses — particularly those in Montezuma County — have seen their summer go up in smoke. Mesa Verde is one of the top draws of the Four Corners area and losing it even for a while hits hard at the economies of several towns.

Many businesses that cater to tourists are mom-and-pop operations, most get by on thin margins, and all rely on the peak-season trade for much of their success. They simply cannot afford to miss July.

The Montezuma County Commission’s declaration of an emergency should help clear the way for low-interest loans for the Cortez-area concerns hardest hit. For their sake, as well as for the families they support, that effort should be expedited. In the meantime, local businesses are benefiting from the money brought into the area by the firefighting effort itself.

Looking to the long run, however, Mesa Verde’s stature as a "must-see" feature of the American Southwest will only increase.

For one thing, the ruins will survive — and it is the ruins that people come to see. The ancient structures of Mesa Verde are not invulnerable, but the most famous parts of the park have so far been spared. Plus, the flames have revealed new sites that had been hidden for centuries. From an archaeological perspective, the fire will probably be a net gain.

More to the point, from a business point of view, the publicity surrounding this fire has put Mesa Verde and Southwest Colorado on front pages worldwide. True, it has not been a happy story, but it has nonetheless served as a reminder of the importance and uniqueness of this area.

There will be other stories as well. As the Bircher Fire subsides, past and potential visitors alike will want to know of the burned area’s recovery, the park’s reopening and the excitement of the new archeological finds. The traveling public’s awareness of Southwest Colorado will only increase.