About five houses were within a quarter mile of the blaze in southeastern Delta County, and a dozen more were within a mile, said Jen Chase of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center. No evacuations have been ordered.
The fire started Thursday on private land and then spread onto the Gunnison National Forest. The cause of the fire is under investigation but officials it may have been started by people. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
About 78 firefighters were on scene with six engines, three large tankers, two helicopters and other equipment.
In northwestern Colorado, Chase said a 1,080-acre fire was being allowed to burn in Rio Blanco County to clear the forest of dead branches, logs and brush.
In the southwestern corner of the state, a 335-acre fire was also being allowed to burn in a remote area of the San Juan National Forest north of Dolores.
