Reaching 1,640 acres in size, the wildfires in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park continue to burn with no signs of containment after two lightning strikes sparked the blazes Thursday.

Evacuations for the park remain Friday, and there is no estimated time for reopening, according to fire and incident information agency InciWeb. The agency stated in a late-night news release Thursday that dry, receptive fuel aided by warm temperatures and wind has made for great circumstances for the fire to burn quickly.

Incident Management Team San Juan Team 8 took command of wildfire containment operations early Friday.

Lori Rome, a spokesperson for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, said one fire started near the Kneeling Camel Overlook, and the other was near the west boundary of the park. The fires reportedly broke out around 11:30 a.m.

Park rangers reportedly acted swiftly to evacuate all park visitors, backcountry hikers and park staff, according to InciWeb.

The National Park Service advised anyone who plans to visit the park to stay away. Access to the Black Canyon via U.S. 50 is closed, according to the organization.

There are currently no active evacuation orders for Montrose County residents. But InciWeb advises nearby residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave should conditions change, emphasizing to not wait for an official evacuation if there is danger.

The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office is posting Facebook updates of the wildfire as they become available. 

Chaffee County wildfire

Two homes were destroyed from a wildfire in the area of the Mountain View Estates subdivision north of Buena Vista, prompting authorities to issue a mandatory evacuation order for the 50 homes in the zone. The fire was contained as of noon Friday. 

A pre-evacuation notice was issued for the surrounding 5 miles. All evacuees can report to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office at 200 Steele Drive in Buena Vista, according to a social media post by the Sheriff’s Office.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.