(The Center Square) – A 10,058-acre Utah fire has crossed over the border into Colorado as the Southwest continues to experience wildfires, including one that created a vortex of flames over the weekend on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
On Monday, the Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County, north of Santa Barbara, had burned 80,786 acres and was 86% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cal Fire said the Green Fire in Shasta County in Northern California had burned 11,642 acres and was only 5% contained.
In Nevada, the Gothic Fire had grown to 36,500 acres as of Monday in Nye County. Nevada media reported the fire was on the state’s Test and Training Range.
The Deer Creek Fire started Thursday near Moab, Utah. The blaze expanded to over 10,000 acres by Monday morning and was 0% contained as it entered Colorado’s Delta County. The county listed the fire on its website and provided a link to Utah-based Manti-Lasal National Forest’s information on the Incidweb site.
Heavy winds Saturday caused the fire to go high into the air, according to media reports.
Monday’s forecast called for possibly more gusty winds and a slight chance of thunderstorms Tuesday through Thursday.
The fire was ignited the afternoon of July 10 near La Sal in San Juan County, according to the multiagency website, InciWeb.
In Arizona, the Dragon Bravo Fire burned 5,716 acres, according to InciWeb.
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge burned down during the fire, the National Park Service reported. It’s among the estimated 50 to 80 buildings that were destroyed.
Damaged buildings included a water treatment facility, which released chlorine gas Saturday afternoon, according to InciWeb.
“No injuries or loss of life have been reported, and all staff and residents were successfully evacuated prior to the fire’s escalation,” the park service said.
The fire began July 4 after a lightning strike within the Grand Canyon National Park.
Propelled by 20 mph winds and gusts up to 40 mph, the fire expanded rapidly at 10:30 p.m. local time Saturday, the park service said.
A vortex of flames Saturday damaged a Bureau of Land Management engine to the point it had to be removed from firefighting operations, according to KSL-TV.
On Sunday, fire managers began ordering retardant drops on the east side of the developed area.
InciWeb said the fire continues to be propelled by strong gusts, triple-digit temperatures and low relative humidity. The Grand Canyon National Park remained under an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service, which reported the temperature at 107 degrees mid-Monday afternoon. Tuesday’s high is expected to be near 111. There’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Tuesday.
The North Rim will remain closed for the rest of the current season, the National Park Service said.
On Sunday in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster declaration of fires in Montrose, Delta and Mesa counties.
