Governor Jared Polis on Wednesday mobilized the Colorado National Guard to support response efforts for the Elk Fire and Lee Fire in Rio Blanco County.

On Wednesday night, Gov. Jared Polis authorized the mobilization of the Colorado National Guard to aid with fire response near Meeker.

The public no longer has access to four state wildlife areas in Colorado as the Elk and Lee fires burn in Rio Blanco County,

A wildfire burning in Rio Blanco County has scorched more than 14,000 acres, fire officials said Tuesday. The Lee fire, which has since absorbed the Grease fire that also started near Meeker, was last mapped at 14,426 acres, fire officials said.

Four fires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope have spread to more than 31,000 acres and forced ongoing evacuations, fire officials said Wednesday.