Rio Blanco County officials lifted some mandatory evacuation and pre-evacuation orders Friday afternoon for the Elk and Lee fires burning near the Western Slope town of Meeker.

The Lee Fire burning in Western Colorado has begun racing south after winds shifted away from the town of Meeker on Friday, prompting officials to declare new evacuation zones.

People living in Meeker are thanking fire crews as two wildfires continue to burn. Both are burning about 15 miles apart in Rio Blanco County. That's about five hours northwest of Colorado Springs.