I’ve been in a lot of correctional facilities in my life, and if you have to give seven days’ notice, they clean up pretty good,” U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette said.

A handful of Democrats in Colorado's congressional delegation went inside the GEO ICE facility in Aurora on Monday.

As large wildfires scorch the Colorado landscape and rising temperatures threaten to ignite more, fire departments across the state are facing a critical challenge: a delicate balancing act between helping neighbors and protecting their own backyards.

In western Colorado, firefighters are up against windy, hot weather as they try to protect homes and infrastructure from a pair of lightning-caused wildfires.

Two wildfires caused by lightning strikes were burning out of control in northwest Colorado on Sunday, forcing evacuations that included nearly 200 inmates at a nearby prison. NBC News’ Dana Griffin has more.