GRAND JUNCTION — Fire managers say shifting winds have helped a wildfire in the remote Little Bookcliffs Wilderness Study Area north of Grand Junction spread to about 900 acres.

The fire had been reported at around 400 acres Wednesday. Wildfire managers have been monitoring the flames to protect forage for wild horses, but otherwise they're allowing it to burn up pinyon juniper that have spread to former forage areas.

Further north, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Moffat and Rio Blanco counties Thursday because of strong gusts, low relative humidity and dry fuels that could lead to large wildfires. A fire about five miles northwest of Craig that burned an outbuilding and a power pole after it started on Tuesday was 90 percent contained Thursday.