The U.S. Department of Agriculture says similar grazing programs that allow cattle and other herds to chew down the dry grass are becoming more common across the West.

South Metro Fire Rescue, which serves nearly 600,000 residents in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties, is forecasting a $20 to $30 million shortfall next year, followed by significant yearly budget shortfalls.

Evacuation orders were issued for residents within a one-mile radius of 1800 County Road 309, the website indicates. Pre-evacuations have been requested for those within a two-mile radius of the fire, according to the Grand Valley Fire Protection District.

Colorado officials have ordered evacuations due to the Cottonwood Flat Fire burning in Garfield County.

A haze of smoke from wildfires burning in Colorado wafted into counties along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor on Wednesday, prompting an air quality health advisory. The smoke is from four wildfires burning in

Initial assessments show that the visitor center and entrance booth survived the fire, but other buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged

FEMA deployed more than 80 Colorado fire resources to support search and rescue efforts in Texas. At the same time, firefighters are being called to local fires.