In a case of bad timing, a helicopter purchased by the state for the specific purpose of fighting wildfires has been taken out of service in the middle of the summer fire season.

Together, the fires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope had consumed nearly 25,000 acres as of Sunday morning.

A restriction on boating on the western side of Blue Mesa Reservoir, where just days ago massive firefighting planes scooped up tons of water to fight the South Rim fire, has been lifted as crews reach more containment of the South Rim fire.