DENVER — Hotter weather, drier conditions and strong winds Wednesday will make firefighting difficult for crews battling more than a dozen wildfires across Colorado's Western Slope, with fire officials warning conditions could lead to more fire growth.

At least 15 fires have burned more than 198,000 acres across Delta, Dolores, Garfield, Grand, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, and Rio Blanco counties, as well as in parts of eastern Utah, with the state's fifth largest fire in history burning near Meeker.

As a result, Governor Jared Polis has mobilized the Colorado National Guard to support response efforts for Rio Blanco County, and has verbally declared a disaster declaration for fires elsewhere in the Western Slope. FEMA has also authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting

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