Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency Sunday for a wildfire burning in northwest Colorado.

MEEKER, Colo. — Gov. Jared Polis has verbally declared a disaster emergency for a wildfire burning southeast of Meeker in western Colorado. The fire, named the Elk Fire, has burned about 600 acres off Rio Blanco County Road 8 about 11 miles from Meeker, the county sheriff's office said. The fire was first spotted on Saturday afternoon.

As fire conditions in northwest Colorado approach near-record levels, Gov. Jared Polis on Sunday issued a disaster declaration to support emergency response efforts for the Elk Creek Fire in Rio Blanco County.