Colorado wildfires: Blazes in western state consume 142,000 acres

Containment is increasing and evacuations are lifting in two wildfires burning in western Colorado, but three others continue to spread, fire officials said.

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.

Jump to : Lee and Elk fires | Oak fire | Stoner Mesa fire | Crosho fire | Statewide impacts

The Lee and Elk fires near Meeker

Two lightning-sparked wildfires burning on either side of Meeker in Rio Blanco County have charred more than 135,000 acres as of Tuesday night.

The Lee fire , which sparked southwest of Meeker in Rio Blanco County and is spreading toward Rifle in Garfield County, was last mapped at 120,650 acres with 4% containment.

Fire offic