Governor Issues Disaster Order as Wildfires Sweep Western Colorado

By Nick Smith | The Denver Gazette

After several lightning strikes set parts of western Colorado aflame two weeks ago, five wildfires have consumed 42,431 acres as incident management teams make headway on containment.

A drought in the West, hot temperatures and powerful wind gusts have allowed the fires to thrive while crews have had to deal with challenging mountainous terrain.

The Turner Gulch, Sowbelly, South Rim and Wright Draw fires prompted several evacuations and caused Gov. Jared Polis to issue a disaster declaration. This allowed the state to mobilize its resources, including supplies, equipment and personnel, to assist in battling the blazes. The declaration also allowed Colorado to request aid from FEMA and other federal agencies, should that become necessary.

The declaration also included the Deer Creek fire in Utah, which has grown to 17,724 acres and crossed the Colorado border into Montrose County. The fire is 77% contained.

Containment for the South Rim fire in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park hasn’t changed much this week, moving from 31% on Monday to 32% on Thursday. The park remains closed.

Here’s an update on the western Colorado wildfires as of Thursday:

• Turner Gulch – 17,747 acres, 41% containment.
• South Rim – 4,220 acres, 32% containment
• Sowbelly – 2,274 acres, 90% containment
• Wright Draw, 466 acres, 89% containment

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