Five active wildfires — the Lee, Elk, Oak, Stoner Mesa and Crosho fires — have charred more than 143,000 acres, or 222 square miles, on the Western Slope in recent days.

The Lee Fire near Meeker, now the fifth largest fire in Colorado's history, is just one four major fires in western Colorado threatening homes and other structures as firefighters struggle to get containment.

A Colorado prison was evacuated as one of the largest wildfires in state history continued to grow, and officials warned residents of remote areas to be ready to leave Sunday as gusty winds and low humidity fed the flames.