The U.S. Department of Agriculture says similar grazing programs that allow cattle and other herds to chew down the dry grass are becoming more common across the West.

Colorado officials have ordered evacuations due to the Cottonwood Flat Fire burning in Garfield County.

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.

A haze of smoke from wildfires burning in Colorado wafted into counties along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor on Wednesday, prompting an air quality health advisory. The smoke is from four wildfires burning in

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.

Favorable weather helped crews gain ground, but the area remains packed with dry vegetation ready to fuel multiple wildfires.