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 burning in Western Colorado has begun racing south after winds shifted away from the town of Meeker on Friday, prompting officials to declare new evacuation zones.

The Lee Fire has become the 5th largest wildfire when compared to other wildfires in the state. According to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (CDFPC), the top 4 largest fires in Colorado are the following: The Lee Fire has reached 113,