The fire — called the Twelve fire on the Bureau of Land Management’s fire dashboard — burned across 1,000 acres over the course of five hours Wednesday after sparking in Moffat County near Elk Springs, about 50 miles west of Craig, according to federal officials.

Multiple evacuation orders have been issued for Rio Blanco county in northwest Colorado due to fast-moving wildfires. The Lee Fire has nearly doubled in size as it approaches the town of Meeker.

The Lee Fire burning in Rio Blanco County has grown to an estimated 45,000 acres as containment remains challenging due to hot, dry conditions.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday expanded an emergency declaration issued earlier this week for the Elk Fire to include the Lee Fire, which has merged with the nearby Grease Fire near Meeker and grown from 13,

Two new wildfires are burning Sunday on Colorado’s Western Slope, prompting evacuation orders and disaster declarations.

Two wildfires burning over 30,000 acres in Rio Blanco County have prompted closures of four state wildlife areas near Meeker.