A wildfire that's burning in the southern part of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has grown to more than 1,600 acres.

Fires near the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park have closed the area.

On Thursday around noon, two fires broke out at the north and south rims of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Aggressive wind gusts on Thursday afternoon caused the rapid expansion of wildfires across Western Colorado. As of Friday morning, many fires are left blazing and releasing smoke into the atmosphere. Much of that smoke is smothering local communities and diminishing the air quality across the region.