After starting the week at 20,000 combined acres, the Elk and Lee fires surpassed 100,000 on Friday.

Started by lightning earlier this week, the twin fires have drastically grown in size over the past several days, according to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook. Officials have attributed the growth to the fire’s interior being filled in, though crews have not yet reached any containment on either fire.

The Lee fire is estimated at nearly 89,000 acres and the Elk fire at over 14,500 Saturday morning, officials said Saturday. 

Despite the continued growth, the office downgraded the town of Meeker’s evacuation status on Friday from pre-evacuation to “ready,” according to the office, a sign of improvement after the town was seemingly under direct threat from the Lee fire as it was spread to the northeast.

Meeker self-evacuates as Elk and Lee fires grow to 75,000 combined acres

Many in the town self-evacuated throughout the week as the Lee fire drew closer, officials told The Denver Gazette on Friday.

Unlike the days before, the office ordered an immediate the evacuation of areas south of the Lee fire, in the direction of Garfield County and the town of Rifle, Friday afternoon, they said on Facebook. 

Officials earlier in the week had attributed the fire’s growth to it “filling in” its interior rather than spreading out.

While growing slightly, the Elk fire remained about the same size on Friday as it had the days before, according to Watch Duty. Crews were able to begin reaching containment on the blaze southeast of Meeker Friday for the first time all week.

Polis mobilizes National Guard as Rio Blanco County fires threaten Meeker

Officials created a new fire information Facebook page where they will be posting updates about the Elk and Lee fires. Those looking for up-to-date information on evacuation notices and road closures should go to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, or sign up for emergency alerts at this link.