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

Two wildfires in western Colorado have burned more than 5,800 acres and continue to prompt mandatory evacuations, fire officials said Sunday morning.

The lightning-sparked South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has burned 3,556 acres with no containment since Thursday, according to a Sunday morning update from the National Park Service.

Bostwick Park in Montrose County and residences on M73, N73, N74 and O74 roads all remain under mandatory evacuation orders, according to fire officials.

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. 50 and the east by East Portal, according to a map updated Saturday night by the National Park Service.

“Grab any important information, medications, and pets and leave the area immediately,” fire officials said. “Do not wait. Do not call 911 unless you have an emergency.”

Evacuated residents had all been safely relocated Sunday, according to the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. Livestock evacuations are also ongoing.

Fire crews on Sunday were working to protect the dam and power infrastructure, private and National Park Service buildings and cultural sites on land belonging to the park service and the Bureau of Land Management, according to the morning update.

More than 190 fire personnel were fighting the flames on the ground or in the air, fire officials said.

As of Sunday morning, the Sowbelly fire in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area in Delta and Mesa counties had burned 2,251 acres and was 0% contained, fire officials said.

That wildfire was also sparked by lightning on Thursday, fire officials said.

Hot, dry and windy weather forecasted for western Colorado on Sunday is a concern for both fires and could spur rapid growth, officials said.

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