DENVER (KDVR) — Two wildfires burning in Rio Blanco County have prompted closures of four state wildlife areas near Meeker. As of Tuesday, the Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area, Rio Blanco Lake State Wildlife Area, Colorow Mountain State Wildlife Area and the Piceance State Wildlife Area’s Little Hills and North Ridge units were closed to the public.

A wildfire that started in northwest Colorado on Saturday afternoon has now burned around 4,000 acres. Evacuations and closures have been put in place near two of the fires burning to the south of Meeker.

The lightning-sparked Elk fire southeast of Meeker in Rio Blanco County started just after noon Saturday and more than quadrupled in size throughout the evening, jumping a county road and