AUG. 4 UPDATE: Colorado wildfires: Elk fire in western state explodes to 2,000 acres, destroys 3 buildings
Two new wildfires are burning Sunday on Colorado’s Western Slope, prompting evacuation orders and disaster declarations.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for the Elk fire burning southeast of Meeker in Rio Blanco County, according to a news release from his office.
The lightning-sparked wildfire started just after noon Saturday and had spread to roughly 600 acres by 2 p.m. Sunday, according to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s officials said the fire, which is burning on a mix of private, Bureau of Land Management and state-owned land, prompted evacuations on both sides of County Road 8 between mile markers 11 and 16.
“Fire crews, along with air and ground support, are actively engaged in suppression efforts,” sheriff’s officials stated in a Sunday afternoon update. “Smoke is visible due to the hot and dry conditions contributing to active fire behavior.”
No structures are currently threatened, but residents and travelers are asked to avoid the area, officials said.
The governor’s disaster declaration allows state officials to direct more resources to fighting the wildfire.
“Fire conditions in northwest Colorado are at near record levels, and elevated fire weather and fire risk is forecast for the coming week,” Polis’ news release stated.
Another new wildfire burning about 80 miles south, near Carbondale in Garfield County, forced evacuations across the community on Sunday, according to fire officials.
The Ranch at Coulter Creek fire sparked near a subdivision with the same name Sunday morning, north of Panorama Drive, according to an 11:24 a.m. post from the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District.
The Panorama subdivision, the Ranch at Coulter Creek and areas east of County Road 100 to Upper Cattle Creek Road were under mandatory evacuation orders Sunday, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Those evacuation orders were lifted at 5 p.m., sheriff’s officials said.
The fire had burned roughly 115 acres with no containment by 4:30 p.m., Carbondale fire officials said.
The new wildfires are burning northeast of three other major fires still active on Colorado’s Western Slope.
The Wright Draw, Turner Gulch and South Rim fires have collectively burned 26,381 acres, according to estimates from fire officials. The Sowbelly fire, which was fully contained on Friday, consumed another 2,274 acres in western Colorado.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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