Five active wildfires — the Lee, Elk, Oak, Stoner Mesa and Crosho fires — have charred more than 142,000 acres, or 222 square miles, on the Western Slope in recent days.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Aspen Springs, the Elk Park subdivision and homes off Ironwood Drive.

Wildfires burning east and west of Durango created smoky skies over the area and prompted evacuations and power shutoffs in the towns of Rico and Pagosa Springs. The Colorado Department of Fire