Several major wildfires continue to burn across Colorado, with much of the state blanketed in hazy smoke.
The fires have collectively burned more than 304 square miles.
The Pine Gulch Fire burning north of Grand Junction has grown to 136,000 acres but is now 47 percent contained. It remains the second-largest wildfire in Colorado’s history, although it is close to overtaking the largest recorded fire, the 2002 Hayman Fire, which burned over 137,000 acres.
Both the size and containment of the Grizzly Creek Fire grew slightly yesterday with the fire burning 32,000 acres with 61 percent containment.
The Cameron Peak Fire is just over 21,000 acres with no containment.
The Williams Fork Fire in Grand County northwest of Fraser, CO., has grown to over 11,000 acres with 5 percent containment.
Fire officials are estimating the Thorpe Fire which started Sunday afternoon in ParkCounty and forced the evacuation of two subdivisions in the Weber Park area, to be 159 acres. The fire is now 50 percent contained. Evacuations were lifted yesterday.
The Thorpe Fire is burning west of Lake George about 2 miles southwest of Tarryall. The cause of the fire is not known.
Several smaller fires are also burning in the state.
Hazy and smoky conditions continue in our area. The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place, depending on where you are.
Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit all open flames, including any type of open burning, fireworks, exploding targets and charcoal grills. Gas grills are allowed as long as the flame can be shut off with a valve.
