Gov. Jared Polis on Sunday made a verbal disaster declaration for a series of wildfires burning in Montrose, Delta and Mesa counties, according to a news release.

The declaration allows the state to mobilize its resources, including supplies, equipment and personnel, to assist in battling the fires and support the residents of the affected areas.

“Due to the dangerous fire conditions the Colorado Department of Public Safety is engaged on the fires and will continue to be engaged and add resources to support local agencies as necessary with the known fires of South Rim, Montrose County, SowBelly, Montrose, Delta, Mesa Counties, Turner Gulch, Wright Fire, Mesa County, and Deer Creek, Montrose County,” the release stated.

The fires were ignited by a lightning storm that rolled through the region on Thursday, officials said.

With Polis’ declaration, the State Emergency Operation and Resource Management Planes will be activated. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will spearhead the state response, which will include personnel and material support. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control will coordinate “incident management and suppression efforts,” according to the release.

Here’s an update on the status of the wildfires as of Sunday afternoon:

South Rim f

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The South Rim blaze in the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park has burned 3,500 acres and is at zero percent containment, according to Inciweb.

More evacuations issued as Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park wildfire burns over 3,000 acres

Sowbelly f

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The Sowbelly fire burning on the Western Slope is 2,251 acres with zero percent containment

Turner Gulch f

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The Turner Gulch fire is burning at about 950 acres in a mountainous area that is difficult to access, said Tim Lavin of the Upper Colorado River fire management unit.

“(The terrain is) very dangerous, very steep and very rocky” Lavin said in Sunday’s operational briefing, posted on Facebook. The smaller Wright Draw fire is also in rough, jagged terrain, he said.

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