The fire that sparked in southeastern Utah last week and crossed into southwestern Colorado this week has damaged over a dozen structures, and now fire officials believe winds will push that fire deeper into Colorado.

The South Rim Fire burning inside Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has destroyed several structures and areas throughout the park, officials announced on Friday.

Colorado’s largest lake has that in spades. The west end of Blue Mesa along U.S. 50 has been closed to watercraft for the duration of the Scoopers’ work, giving the planes plenty of room to do their firefighting work — and to put on their show.

Evacuation orders were issued for residents within a one-mile radius of 1800 County Road 309, the website indicates. Pre-evacuations have been requested for those within a two-mile radius of the fire, according to the Grand Valley Fire Protection District.

South Metro Fire Rescue, which serves nearly 600,000 residents in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties, is forecasting a $20 to $30 million shortfall next year, followed by significant yearly budget shortfalls.

After a dry start to the summer in Colorado, with wildfires burning across the Western Slope, the approaching North American Monsoon could provide some needed relief.   Snowmelt happened unusually early for Colorado’s Western Slope

Three first responders with the Delaware Forest Service are being deployed to Grand Junction, Colorado to assist with the containment of a wildfire currently burning over 15,000 acres.