The Colorado State Patrol has been called to help evacuate the campgrounds at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Area.

GATEWAY, Colo. — People have been ordered to evacuate near Gateway in western Colorado due to two wildfires burning in the area. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office said evacuation orders have been given for all private land and areas between mile markers 120 and 124 along Highway 141 near Gateway.

We ask our community to pray for the victims’ families during this difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said.

A wildfire in the northern part of Colorado's Chaffee County destroyed two homes on Thursday and it is threatening dozens of others.

Residents along Escalante Canyon Road, especially past the Pot Holes recreation area in Montrose and Mesa counties, have been put on pre-evacuation status.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office helped evacuate people from an area north of Jacob Lake and campers in the Kaibab National Forest nearby.

A wildfire that's burning in the southern part of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado has grown to more than 1,600 acres. It has damaged some park equipment and several outbuildings.

More than a dozen fires are creating heavy smoke, with more lightning and gusty winds expected for parts of the Western Slope Friday.

Aggressive wind gusts on Thursday afternoon caused the rapid expansion of wildfires across Western Colorado. As of Friday morning, many fires are left blazing and releasing smoke into the atmosphere. Much of that smoke is smothering local communities and diminishing the air quality across the region.

A fire burning in Eagle County closed westbound Interstate 70 near Dotsero on Saturday afternoon, according to the Colorado State Patrol.