Rapid growth on the South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park forced immediate evacuations in Montrose County on Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters continue to battle the South Rim fire in the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, as the blaze burned over 1,000 acres overnight, leading to evacuations for nearby neighborhoods.

Visitors and staff at two national parks in the U.S. West have been evacuted because of wildfires. Officials at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado say the park closed Thursday morning after lightning sparked blazes on both rims.