The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Team responded to eight confirmed wildfires following lightning strikes on Friday evening.

Several of these fires were sparked within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and the largest of these, the Jones fire, has already burned over 2,000 acres.

The Jones fire ignited 1 mile west of the Utah-Colorado state line and 2 miles from the Colorado River in the McInnis Canyons NCA.

Early Saturday morning, the fire was estimated at 20 acres. Another fire, the Snyder Mesa, ignited a few miles south. According to Tommy Hayes, fire chief at Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit, Snyder Mesa had burned over 1,000 acres, there was possible danger to structures and a possibility that the two fires would merge.

A red flag warning remains in place for much of the Western Slope. The dry conditions, low humidity and strong southwesterly winds, reaching gusts of up to 44 mph, pushed smoke from the fires across the Grand Valley by 3 p.m.

The Lower Valley Fire District advised residents Saturday morning to still use their air conditioners but to put it on a recirculate setting to “help reduce smoke entering your home.”

Another fire also ignited in the same storm near Redrock Canyon, 12 miles northeast of Grand Junction on BLM land. The National Interagency Fire Center said the Redrock fire had burned about 33 acres.

“Engines, crews and aircraft are all actively engaged in suppression efforts on all incidents,” said the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Team on social media. “Please stay vigilant and avoid any activities that could add to the problem.”