Colorado’s western slope is battling at least four uncontained wildfires, with thousands of acres already destroyed due to hot, dry weather. Governor Jared Polis has declared a state of disaster in response to the fires.
These fires were all ignited by a lightning storm on Thursday afternoon, with a fifth fire close to entering Colorado from Utah. In addition to these fires, a new group has emerged in Douglas County near Chatfield State Park.
The cause and size of the fires in the metro area are still under investigation. One fire burned around 20 acres within the state park, but crews are struggling to estimate the total size due to multiple spot fires in the area.
In another part of the state, the South Rim fire at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has expanded to approximately 3,556 acres with no containment as of Saturday night. Evacuations have been enforced in specific areas.
Meanwhile, the Sowbelly fire in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area has grown to 2,251 acres across multiple counties, and fires near Gateway in Mesa County are posing challenges for firefighters due to the rugged terrain.
The Turner Gulch fire on Bureau of Land Management property has spread to about 940 acres, while the nearby Wright Draw fire has destroyed at least 160 acres. Crews are working to contain these fires amidst difficult conditions.
As emergency officials continue to monitor the situation, Utah’s Deer Creek fire is nearing the Colorado border, having already burned over 8,900 acres in eastern Utah. This fire is also part of Gov. Polis’ disaster declaration, with state resources being mobilized to combat the blaze.
State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization plans have been activated to coordinate efforts and deploy resources effectively. With hundreds of firefighters already on the ground, Colorado is working diligently to contain and extinguish these wildfires.
For more Colorado news, subscribe to our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
Originally Published:
