Gusty, shifting winds and high temperatures have caused a wildfire in central Oregon to spread rapidly, reaching more than 40,000 acres and prompting evacuations from ranches and communities in two counties, the authorities said on Tuesday.

Hot, dry conditions and strong winds have made it difficult to contain the Cram fire, the largest active wildfire in the state.

Several wildfires continue to eat their way through western Colorado, with the Turner Gulch fire in Mesa County growing more than 6,000 acres overnight after crossing over from Utah. On the other side of the canyon,