DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has verbally made a disaster declaration as several wildfires rip through more than 10,000 acres on the Western Slope and in Utah near the Colorado border.
Four fires are actively burning in Colorado: Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s South Rim Fire, the Sowbelly Fire in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and the Turner Gulch and Wright Draw fires in Mesa County. Polis’ said all four fires were caused by the same weather event that happened on Thursday, and local fire officials have confirmed several were suspected to be cause by lightning.
The South Rim Fire has burned more than 3,500 acres; the Sowbelly more than 2,000; and the two Mesa County fires have burned nearly 700 acres together. There is also the nearly 9,000-acre Deer Creek Fire in eastern Utah just on the other side of the Colorado border, and Polis’ disaster declaration included that fire.
“Due to the dangerous fire conditions, the Colorado Department of Public Safety is engaged on the fires and will continue to be engaged and add resources to support local agencies as necessary,” Polis’ office said.
The State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization plans are now activated, and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is coordinated the state’s response.
Here’s a look at where all five fires stand as of Sunday afternoon:
Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s South Rim Fire
The fire burning along the south rim of the canyon is uncontained and burned more than 3,500 acres, officials said Sunday morning.
Officials said 190 personnel are working on the fire that has caused Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to shut down and several Montrose County evacuations.
Sowbelly Fire, Escalante Canyon
The Sowbelly Fire is burning 2,251 acres uncontained along the rim of Escalante Canyon in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in portions of Delta, Mesa and Montrose counties.
Turner Gulch and Wright Draw Fires, Mesa County
Fire officials on Saturday said the Turner Gulch Fire and the Wright Draw Fire, both burning in Mesa County near the town of Gateway, are at 512 and 160 acres, respectively. Evacuations have been ordered in the area.
Deer Creek Fire, Utah
Utah fire officials on Sunday said the Deer Creek Fire, nearly at the Colorado border, has burned 8,925 acres in eastern Utah.
Officials have not yet said the fire has crossed into Colorado, but it is uncontained, and several Colorado county sheriff’s offices say they have received reports of smoke in Colorado coming from the fire.
