Colorado deploys more than 1,000 firefighters to battle two huge blazes

Colorado is battling one of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, with more than 1,000 firefighters being deployed to gain control over the flames raging west of Denver.

The Lee fire, churning through trees and brush about 250 miles (400km away from Meaker, is now the fifth largest single fire in the state’s history, according to the Colorado division of fire prevention and control.

The blaze was caused by lightning on 2 August, and by Monday morning, had burned through more than 130,000 acres (52,610 hectares). It is 7% contained.

The fire is one of several blazes in the region. Another major blaze, the Elk fire, is burning to the east of the Lee fire, and has scorched more than 14,000 acres and is 30% contained.

On Monday, the Colorado governor, Jared Polis, declared a disaster emergency to support response efforts for the Oak fire, which is burning in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta county.

Evacuation are in place for mountain communities across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. On Saturday, the Rifle correctional center was evacuated.

Smoke caused by the fires hs prompted air quality warnings.

Meanwhile, in southern California, crews reached more than 90% containment on the Canyon fire that forced evacuations and destroyed seven structures after breaking out Thursday near the Los Angeles county and Ventura county line. Three firefighters have been injured in that blaze, including a battalion chief who was seriously hurt when his pickup truck rolled over in steep terrain.

The Gifford fire, California’s largest blaze so far this year, has scorched nearly 120,000 acres of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since erupting on 1 August. It was 33% contained on Monday.