Wildfires burning in northwestern Colorado have scorched nearly 60,000 acres, fire officials said Thursday morning, after a day of hot, dry and windy weather.

After sparking over the weekend, the Lee fire burning southwest of Meeker is now the largest wildfire in Colorado at 45,000 acres. The nearby Elk fire, burning to the east of Meeker, is now estimated at 14,250 acres.

The Lee fire continued to make large runs Wednesday, mostly north toward Meeker, fire officials said in an update. The heightened fire activity caused a large smoke cloud that collapsed causing the fire to jump Colorado 13 and rapidly consume 100 acres before firefighting aircraft could get ahead of it.

Firefighters repositioned to protect structures closer to Meeker and to try to prevent the fire from getting closer

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