Lightning sparked three wildfires that blazed through Colorado mountain terrain, causing two towns to evacuate while threatening a third on Friday, according to Reuters. The West Fork Fire Complex, made up of two separate fires in Rio Grande County in southern Colorado, made 600 residents leave their homes as rapid winds increased the fire from 12,000 acres to 30,000 acres overnight. A smoke plume stemming from the blazes rose 30,000 feet into the air, and firefighters reported 100-foot embers. However, government funding meant to help states endure losses from fires is dwindling. Cuts could make jobs harder for crews that are already stretched painfully thin amid a fierce wildfire season.
