The lightning-caused Lee fire burning on Colorado’s Western Slope near Meeker continued to grow under strong winds and has now scorched more than 60,000 acres, fire officials said Thursday morning.

After a spot fire spread Thursday into the Colorado 64 corridor west of Meeker, firefighters stopped the flames from making a run across the highway, officials with the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team said. Hotshot crews made progress creating a fireline along the Grand Hogback, a ridgeline on the west side of the fire.

The fire continued to grow southward, pushing against the wind, officials said. On Friday, crews will continue to strengthen the fireline and prepare for shifting winds in the next few days.

The Colorado National Guard will be using two Type 1 helicopters,

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