South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison grows to 3,500 acres

Two wildfires in western Colorado have burned more than acres and continue to prompt mandatory evacuations fire officers stated Sunday morning The lightning-sparked South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has burned acres with no containment since Thursday according to a Sunday morning update from the National Park Operation Bostwick Park in Montrose County and residences on M N N and O roads all remain under mandatory evacuation orders according to fire functionaries The South Rim fire evacuation zone is bordered to the west by Lateral Ditch Road the north by Black Canyon the south by U S and the east by East Portal according to a map updated Saturday night by the National Park Provision Grab any major information medications and pets and leave the area this instant fire leaders explained Do not wait Do not call unless you have an exigency Evacuated residents had all been safely relocated Sunday according to the Montrose County Sheriff s Office Livestock evacuations are also ongoing Related Articles Rapidly moving South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park forces more evacuations South Rim fire forces evacuations near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Mount View fire forces evacuations north of Buena Vista Lightning-sparked wildfires burning on more than acres of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Several grass fires along High Line Canal in Arapahoe County deemed suspicious Fire crews on Sunday were working to protect the dam and power infrastructure private and National Park Operation buildings and cultural sites on land belonging to the park provision and the Bureau of Land Management according to the morning update More than fire personnel were fighting the flames on the ground or in the air fire executives stated As of Sunday morning the Sowbelly fire in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area in Delta and Mesa counties had burned acres and was contained fire administrators declared That wildfire was also sparked by lightning on Thursday fire functionaries noted Hot dry and windy weather forecasted for western Colorado on Sunday is a concern for both fires and could spur rapid improvement officers announced Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter