Five active wildfires — the Lee, Elk, Oak, Stoner Mesa and Crosho fires — have charred more than 142,000 acres, or 222 square miles, on the Western Slope in recent days.

Several fires are burning across western Colorado, with some at historic sizes and other causing evacuations of Western Slope towns.

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.