The U.S. Department of Agriculture says similar grazing programs that allow cattle and other herds to chew down the dry grass are becoming more common across the West.

Colorado officials have ordered evacuations due to the Cottonwood Flat Fire burning in Garfield County.

Evacuation orders were issued for residents within a one-mile radius of 1800 County Road 309, the website indicates. Pre-evacuations have been requested for those within a two-mile radius of the fire, according to the Grand Valley Fire Protection District.

After a dry start to the summer in Colorado, with wildfires burning across the Western Slope, the approaching North American Monsoon could provide some needed relief. Snowmelt happened unusually early for Colorado’s Western Slope

A brush fire was reported Tuesday afternoon in Douglas County, just a few miles from fires that broke out Sunday that forced the evacuations of the town of Louviers.