As of Aug. 1, this story will no longer be updated every day. It will be updated with major developments.
PUEBLO, Colo. — The Aspen Acres Fire burning in Custer and Pueblo counties, 10 miles northwest of Rye, has destroyed more than 850 structures and has grown to 102,000 acres, with containment at 71%, according to a Aug. 7 update from the incident management team.
As of the evening of Aug. 8, all evacuation and pre-evacuation orders have lifted and Highways 165 and 78 reopened.
View the evacuation map for the Aspen Acres Fire here.
The 102,000-acre blaze was first reported on the morning of June 29 and has become the seventh-largest fire in Colorado state history, forcing hundreds to evacuate in the communities of Beulah, Colorado City and Rye.
No casualties have been reported.
🔥 MORE | Extensive Denver7 coverage of Colorado wildfire season 2026
With more than 850 structures lost, including at least 350 homes, the human-caused fire ranks among Colorado's most destructive wildfires by homes destroyed.
Wildfire
Suit: Residents allege powerlines were 'substantial factor' in Aspen Acres Fire
Although the cause has been determined, the exact manner and origin of the blaze are not yet known.
The most up-to-date map with evacuations is here, though all have lifted as of July 25. To sign up for emergency alerts in Custer and Fremont counties, click here. To sign up for emergency alerts in Pueblo County, click here.
Denver7 is tracking the latest information on this fire.
Friday, Aug. 8
6 p.m. | Highways reopen | Highways 165 and 78 are set to reopen Friday at 7 p.m., per the Custer County sheriff's office. The only remaining pre-evacuation notices also lift at 7 p.m.
Friday, July 31
3 p.m. | Evacuation update | All evacuation orders for the Aspen Acres Fire have been lifted, fire officials said. The only exceptions are zones C1, C2, and FS-5, which remain in pre-evacuation status, they added.
The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been reduced to a 7-nautical-mile radius. It is now in effect only during daytime hours, specifically from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, July 31
9 a.m. | Operational update | Fire officials working the Aspen Acres Fire said the following in an operational update Friday morning:
Fire activity continued to be moderate Thursday thanks to recent rainfall in the area, which helped limit fire spread and allowed firefighters to focus on securing existing control lines and initiating repair operations.
On Friday, crews will focus on securing control lines, mop-up, and completing suppression repair.
Near Rye and San Isabel, firefighters are mopping up and securing the "black edge" along control lines, which involves extinguishing lingering heat to ensure the fire does not cross the line. Suppression repair activities are ongoing in this area, including felling of weakened trees along roads, pulling trees away from the fireline, and piling slash, fire officials said.
Aviation resources remain active, scouting for interior heat and identifying any areas that may pose a threat to the line.
Suppression repair also continues along the north and eastern perimeters, and firefighters are performing directional felling to support Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) prescriptions, which focus on stabilizing steep slopes and mitigating erosion in fire-impacted areas.
A flash flood watch is in effect for the Aspen Acres fire through Friday evening due to the high potential for thunderstorms to produce flash flooding and debris flows. Thunderstorms are likely to develop by late morning and continue into the evening with locally heavy rain of over 0.5'' possible. Slightly cooler temperatures and higher relative humidities are expected to accompany the thunderstorms, fire officials said.
8:18 a.m. | Acreage and containment latest | The Aspen Acres Fire grew slightly at 101,961 acres and containment also increased to 67%, according to the incident management team.
Thursday, July 30
4 p.m. | Flood evacuations | The Custer County sheriff's office issued a mandatory evacuation for residents along County Road 378, also known as Spruce Lane.
"This is due to the area being unsafe following last night's flood," the order said.
Evacuations will lift "when road crews can make the road safe for travel again," the update said.
9 a.m. | Operational update | Fire officials working the Aspen Acres Fire northwest of Rye said in an operational update the following:
Because the fire has removed vegetation that normally stabilizes the soil, communities should remain alert for flash flooding, which can be triggered by even moderate rainfall on a burned landscape.
Residents near the fire are encourage to monitor local emergency alert systems and remain prepared to move to higher ground quickly if conditions change.
On Wednesday, fire crews encountered moderate fire behavior thanks to cloud cover and widespread rainfall. They also continued to strengthen the fireline while refining confinement and containment strategies along the uncontained edges of the fire.
Firefighters in the northwestern and eastern portion of the fire continue suppression repair work by using heavy equipment operators to reshape dozer lines to prevent future erosion.
There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours. Stronger storms during this period may also produce lightning and gusty winds, up to 40 mph. Rainfall may bring a risk of flash flooding, especially over burn scars and recently saturated areas. Warmer, drier conditions are forecast for the weekend.
Wednesday, July 29
Fire behavior was minimal Tuesday because of rain and cloud cover, according to the incident management team. As weather is expected to trend warmer and drier toward the end of the week, fire activity could change.
Heavy rain on the burn scar prompted flooding in Beulah amid a flash flood emergency for the area. Multiple road closures were in place due to mud and debris, according to the Pueblo County sheriff's office.
The Burned Area Emergency Response Team continues to assess hazards from the fires, including burn severity and potential impacts to critical infrastructure, watersheds and natural resources.
On Tuesday, crews worked to fix fences that were cut during suppression activities.
Tuesday, July 28
9 a.m. | Operation update | On Tuesday morning, fire officials working the Aspen Acres Fire provided the following operational update:
As of 7 a.m., the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management (CIM) Team 3 has assumed command of this fire from Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 6.
Fire officials said flood danger within burn scar areas remains elevated, as rainfall may trigger flash flooding or debris flows with little notice. They remind people who live near the fire to keep emergency alerts enabled and stay ready to evacuate again if flash‑flood potential increases or fire conditions worsen.
The table below shows which burn scars are under a flooding risk through Thursday:
Crews working the fire are continuing work to secure the perimeter in the northwestern edge of the fire while doing suppression repair work on the northern and eastern perimeters, they said. Additionally, crews are continuing to improve indirect lines and are assessing options to protect values west of Lake Isabel and south of Saint Charles Peak.
The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is currently on-site conducting assessments of post-fire threats, they added.
Monsoon moisture is expected to spread across the fire area today and tomorrow, resulting in a high probability of showers and thunderstorms, and slightly cooler temperatures, fire officials said, adding conditions are anticipated to get drier during the later part of the week.
The fire remains 66% contained and is 101,921 acres in size as of Tuesday.
Monday, July 27
10:20 a.m. | By the numbers | The Aspen Acres Fire grew in acreage slightly over the weekend and is currently 101,921 acres. However, containment also increased to 66%.
As of now, 881 people are working to fully contain this fire.
9:07 a.m. | Operations update | The risk of flooding at the burn scar remains elevated. On Sunday, more than 85 volunteers helped to fill and load sandbags to protect against flooding, the fire's Facebook page reads. Homeowners can grab some of these bags as well.
The fire activity was minimal on Sunday. Crews continued to strengthen primary and secondary lines along the west side of the fire.
"In the last week, firefighters were able to contain multiple new starts caused by lightning nearby," the incident management team said. "To ensure continuity of suppression operations, a group of firefighters were assigned specifically for initial attack of new starts to allow other firefighters to remain focused on suppression efforts on the Aspen Acres Fire."
Tactical burning of the interior of the fire is ongoing when conditions are favorable.
The fire's behavior may increase as conditions grow warmer over the next few days, but it is still expected to be minimal, the management team said.
Saturday, July 25
9 a.m. | All evacuations lifted | All evacuations have been lifted, as of a Saturday morning update, with all zones going to either pre-evacuation or clear status, according to an update from the incident management team. Residents in a pre-evacuation zones need a re-entry card to return home. All residents should remain prepared to leave if conditions change.
As of Saturday morning the fire is 101,738 acres and is 61% contained.
Friday, July 24
5 p.m. | More evacuations lift | More evacuations are lifting in Pueblo County. Residents from Zone FS-5 can return home starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, the incident management team said Friday. Those residents will remain on pre-evacuation status.
As many evacuations have been lifted, The Pueblo County Evacuation Center at 1650 Cooper Place closed Friday at 5 p.m.
8:06 a.m. | Acreage latest and containment update | The latest intelligence on the Aspen Acres Fire is estimated at 101,738 acres and remains at 61% containment, according to the incident management team.
Thursday, July 23
5:13 p.m. | Evacuations lifting | The Custer County sheriff's office announced Thursday evening that evacuations would lift Friday at 10 a.m. for the San Isabel area. A pre-evacuation will remain in place, and residents should still be prepared to leave quickly. There is no cell service and no power currently in the area, according to the Thursday evening update.
10 a.m. | Operational update | In an operational update Thursday morning, fire officials working the Aspen Acres Fire said the following:
Evacuation orders have been lifted for Zones P8 and P11 in Pueblo County, which includes the Town of Rye. But residents in those ares were still not in the clear, as both of those zones were moved to pre-evacuation status. Residents must have a re-entry card to enter their property. Re-entry cards are available at the Recovery Assistance Center, located at 2670 Delphinium Street in Pueblo.
Fire officials stressed that areas under a pre-evacuation status must be prepared to leave should conditions change.
Additionally, Zones P9 and P12, which include the Colorado City area, were taken off pre-evacuation on Thursday. Residents in area P1 remain in pre-evacuation status, fire officials said.
In Huerfano County, the sheriff's office there has reduced Zones H16, H17, and H1 to pre-evacuation status. To the west, in Zone H15 pre-evacuation has been lifted and is now clear.
"Overall, things are looking really good. We were blessed last night with a good shot of rain" in the southwestern part of the fire, up above the Town of Rye, said Ben Wagner, one of the operation chiefs for Northern Rockies Team 6. "Firefighters are making significant progress with mop-up and suppression repair."
He said firefighters took advantage of Wednesday's rain showers to strengthen containment lines along the western side of the fire.
A flash flood watch is in effect Thursday afternoon into the evening in the area around the Aspen Acres fire footprint. Residents near the burn scar should prepare for potential hazards by ensuring they can receive emergency notifications from your respective county and monitor weather alerts, fire officials said.
"After fire is on the landscape, even low levels of precipitation can cause mudslides, debris flows, and flash flooding. Residents and visitors should be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued," the wrote on the fire's Facebook page.
Wednesday, July 22
8 p.m. | Flash flood warning | The Aspen Acres burn scar area is under a flash flood warning through midnight, and "rainfall amounts as low as a quarter inch could produce flooding," according to a post from the incident management team.
5:26 p.m. | Evacuations lifting | The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office announced that multiple evacuation orders will lift on Thursday at 8 a.m., including the Town of Rye. This update applies to Zones P-8 and P-11. Residents must have a re-entry card to enter the area. Zones P-9 and P-12, which includes the Colorado City area, will also be taken off pre-evacuation on Thursday.
Northern Rockies Team 6 Operations Section Chief Ben Wagner explained during an operations update that there was "really, really strong work" done along the southern edge of the Aspen Acres Fire. Smoke has diminished in the area as well, he said.
7 a.m. | Acreage latest and containment update | The Aspen Acres Fire remains at 101,546 acres and 61% containment, according to the incident management team.
Tuesday, July 21
1:30 p.m. | Evacuation update | Zones H-1, H-16, and H-17 remain in mandatory evacuation status due to active fire activity in or near those zones, fire officials said Monday afternoon.
Displaced residents who have not already done so should go to the Huerfano County Department of Human Services, located at 121 W. 6th Street in Walsenburg, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to obtain reentry cards. These cards will be necessary to go back in the zones when they are downgraded from mandatory evacuation.
Huerfano County residents displaced by the Aspen Acres Fire are also able to make use of resources available at the Recovery Assistance Center, located at Beulah Heights Elementary, 2670 Delphinium Street, in Pueblo, from Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. Behavioral health, human services, food distribution, and other resources are available through the Center.
10:47 a.m. | Update on new evacuations in Custer County | The Custer County sheriff explained that this fire began to "move fast" in Custer Zone C3 (in the Saint Charles Peak area) on Monday, but then "suddenly died down."
Both Custer Zone C3 and C4 are expected to reopen on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Learn more here.
9:05 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | The Aspen Acres Fire has now burned through 101,546 acres while containment maintains at 61%, according to the incident management team.
8 a.m. | Mandatory evacuation order lifts | The mandatory evacuation order is being lifted at 8 a.m. for the Aspen Acres and 12 Mile Road areas, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. Evacuation zone FS-3 and FS-4 will go on pre-evacuation status, which means they should still be prepared to leave if conditions change.
Residents re-entering the area must travel Highway 96 to McKenzie Junction to Highway 165. Do not attempt to enter through Rye from Highway 165, the Pueblo County sheriff advised.
"You will be turned away," Pueblo County sheriff said.
Residents will need re-entry cards to access their homes.
Monday, July 20
4 p.m. | Some evacuations lifted | The mandatory evacuation order for the North Creek area (Zone FS-2) and the 2600 block of Siloam Road (Zone FS-1) has been lifted, according to fire officials.
"Residents in these areas may return to their homes but will remain on pre-evacuation, which means you should be prepared to leave should conditions change," they added.
Residents looking to return to their homes in this area will need a re-entry card to access their homes.
U.S. Forest Service property is still closed, fire officials said.
6:00 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | The Aspen Acres was estimated at 100,756 acres Monday morning and remains at 61% contained, according to the incident management team.
A community meeting will be held in Colorado City at 7 p.m. Monday at the Craver Middle School at 4850 South Crow Cutoff. It will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Saturday, July 18
11:15 a.m. | More evacuations lift | Evacuations for the area just north of Bishop Castle lifted Saturday, with the zone moving to pre-evacuation status.
Highway 78 remains closed in Custer County, per the sheriff's office.
The evacuation order for the Libre area was also downgraded to pre-evacuation status, according to the Huerfano County sheriff's department.
Click here for the most up-to-date map with evacuations.
11 a.m. | Additional crews arrive to protect Rye | Additional hotshot crews are arriving to help prevent the spread of the fire into Rye, the incident management team said.
"While containment on the fire has reached 61%, fire located in the mountains to the west of Rye has been pushing against firelines in steep, rocky terrain," the post said. "Crews are working to keep fire from spreading into drainages that lead down into the Rye area."
10 a.m. | 'If you fly, we can't' | An unauthorized drone entered the fire airspace Friday, forcing aerial resources to stand down, according to a morning update from the incident management team.
"Any unknown aircraft within the restricted airspace halts aerial operations and puts firefighters at risk," the update said. "It’s important for the public to understand that flying a drone near a wildfire is not only dangerous, it is a federal offense."
7 a.m. | Containment increases | Containment on the 100,224 fire rose to 61%, per a morning update from the incident management team.
Friday, July 17
12 p.m. | Wildfire update| The Aspen Acres Fire has grown to more than 100,223 acres in size, according to Watch Duty.
In an operational update earlier Friday, Wagner, one of the operation chiefs for Northern Rockies Team 6, said that while containment increased on the fire, predominantly on the north side, crews continued to patrol for hot spots on the northeast and southeast sides of the blaze.
He said the southwest side of the fire was highly active by Thursday afternoon, but firefighting aircraft supported crews and equipment on the ground, aggressively working to keep the fire from pushing south to Rye or north to San Isabel areas.
Air resources and firefighters worked Thursday to reduce fire activity, improve and connect dozer lines and hand lines, and have continued structure protection work, as well as work to construct primary and secondary defensive lines in the vicinity of Saint Charles Peak.
Fire activity was expected to increase on the west side of the fire Friday, posing threats similar to fire behavior observed on Wednesday and Thursday. Fuels remain extremely receptive to fire, he said.
A community meeting is planed at the Raymond Aguirre Community Center from 7 to 8 p.m.
There will also be a pre-scheduled Wildfire Protection Plan Meeting on Wednesday, July 29 from 5-7 p.m. at Raymond Aguirre Community Center in Gardner, Colorado.
Thursday, July 16
10 p.m. | Containment increases | Containment on the 99,820-acre fire has increased to 48%, according to the latest update from InciWeb. The highest priority for firefighters is currently the southern section of the fire, according to an evening field update from the incident management team.
"Firefighters are working to eliminate the threat of fire in the mountains west of Rye from impacting the community," the update said.
1 p.m. | Lawsuit filed | Residents forced to evacuate due to the Aspen Acres Fire have filed a lawsuit against the local power company, alleging powerlines were a "substantial factor in causing and contributing" to the wildfire's spread in Custer and Pueblo counties. Read our full story here or below.
Wildfire
Suit: Residents allege powerlines were 'substantial factor' in Aspen Acres Fire
12:20 p.m. | Community meeting | An Aspen Acres Fire community meeting is scheduled for Friday in Gardner. More information is below.
7:17 a.m. | Acreage and containment latest | The Aspen Acres Fire has now burned through 99,820 acres, with containment holding at 36% containment, according to the incident management team.
Wednesday, July 15
4 p.m. | Rye fire chief issues message | Rye Fire Protection District Chief Ross Gallegos issued a message to those still under evacuation orders, reminding them that fire activity remains unpredictable.
"I understand the frustration of being unable to return to you home," Gallegos wrote in the message posted Wednesday afternoon. "However, I want to be clear: It is not safe to return at this time."
He also asked for continued cooperation from those who have been allowed to return home in not traveling beyond established checkpoints unless specifically authorized.
"This is not the time for sightseeing or photographing fire-affected areas," he wrote. "Every unnecessary vehicle or person in the area creates additional risk to firefighters, utility crews, law enforcement, and other personnel working to restore services and secure our community."
6 a.m. | Fire behavior update | In an update Wednesday morning, fire officials said the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 6 assumed command of the Aspen Acres Fire, which remains at 99,077 acres in size and 36% containment.
In their morning brief, fire officials said:
- Crews have continued substantial work in the Mingus Ranch area by improving lines and extinguishing hot spots after the prior several days of strategic firing operations that removed fuels between the constructed line and the wildfire.
- Fire activity was lower at Saint Charles Peak on Tuesday, while work continued on constructing primary and secondary firelines from the north to the south.
- Crews have made progress connecting portions of constructed dozer lines and hand line near San Isabel, with structure protection complete for over 300 structures in this area.
- Strategic firing operations began Tuesday night on the north flanks of this area of high heat, dubbed the “chicken foot,” which is a critical step in removing fuels between the constructed lines and the wildfire. On the south side, crews are constructing direct line in effort to contain the fire.
- The structure protection group is also mitigating threats to properties in the Rye area and all along the west side of the fire, including other communities to the north and west.
Smoldering hot spots on the northeast side of the fire remain a lurking threat, fire officials said, with highly flammable juniper trees near a populated area remaining a potential threat to firefighting activities.
Fire officials said a high pressure system will hold over the area through Thursday, with hot, dry, and breezy conditions remaining in place for the time being. A chance of afternoon thunderstorms persists for Tuesday, and fire activity is expected to increase on the west side of the fire due to temperature and wind increases.
Evacuations:
In Pueblo County, evacuation status was lifted for the north and northeastern portions of the Aspen Acres Fire perimeter.
Residents south of Highway 96 and North of Highway 78 are allowed to return to their homes. All residents will remain in pre-evacuation status and must be prepared to leave should conditions change.
The fire remains active near North Muddy Creek, with potential to advance toward Rye. Thus, evacuation status remains on the south side of the fire.
For Pueblo County evacuation information, call the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 719-583-4640; information about the Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) is also available.
Wetmore and Greenwood residents may return home; the area remains in pre-evacuation status. Other areas of Custer County affected by the fire remain in pre-evacuation and evacuation status. For Custer County re-entry questions or specific evacuation status, call 719-467-0271.
Huerfano County Sheriff's Office evacuated all areas within the National Forest to the East of where Williams Creek crosses into the National Forest and then following Williams Creek North to where Williams Creek intersects with CR 630 and following CR 630 generally north to where CR 630 intersects with CR 636 and continuing to follow CR 630 west to where it intersects with CR 634 (Gardner Road) and then running due North to the County Line.
Southern and Eastern boundaries of the evacuation zone are the US Forest Service boundary and the Northern boundary is the County Line. For further information, call 719-738-1044 to reach Huerfano County dispatch.
Tuesday, July 14
3:41 p.m. | Evacs lift for Beulah | All evacuations for the Beulah area were lifted Tuesday afternoon, and re-entry cards are no longer required, the Pueblo County sheriff's office announced. Some evacuations in the area had previously been lifted earlier in the day and week. For an up-to-date map of evacuations, click here.
11 a.m. | New evacuations in Huerfano County |The Huerfano County sheriff's office announced new evacuations on U.S. Forest Service land at 11 a.m. The southern and eastern boundaries of the evacuation zone are the U.S. Forest Service boundary and the northern boundary is the county line, according to a post from the sheriff's office.
10 a.m. | Some evacuations lift |The Pueblo County sheriff’s office lifted evacuations for residents along the north and northeastern side of the fire perimeter beginning at 8 a.m. Residents in those areas remain on pre-evacuation status and should be ready to leave if conditions change. A list of addresses for those able to return to their homes can be found here.
The Custer County sheriff's office announced it was lifting evacuations for Zone C5B and reopening Highway 96 from Westcliffe to the Pueblo county line at 10 a.m.
Pre-evacuations in Fremont County lifted Monday, and residents of Beulah in Pueblo County and Wetmore in Custer County also began returning to their homes Monday. Other areas remain evacuated.
8:35 a.m. | Fire behavior update | In a morning update, the incident management team said:
- Fire behavior increased near Saint Charles Peak on the west side of the fire. Crews are working to clear vegetation, construct a fireline and and assess structure protection needs, the update said.
- About 2 miles northwest of Rye, there was high fire activity in the North Muddy Creek area. "Firefighters are aggressively constructing defensive lines between the fire and communities," the update said.
- Fire activity is low on the northeast side, although it "remains a lurking threat." Residents are returning to their homes in the area and firefighters are continuing to work in the area.
Fire behavior is expected to continue to increase on the west side of the fire this afternoon as temperatures rise and winds pick up Tuesday afternoon, the update said.
6:47 a.m. | No growth overnight | There was no growth estimated overnight in the Aspen Acres Fire, according to the incident management team.
The fire remains at 36% contained and 98,752 acres burned.
Monday, July 13
2:18 p.m. | Evacuations update | The Fremont County Sheriff's Office said because crews made progress along the north and northwest edges of the fire, those areas can now move from pre-evacuation status to "awareness" status. Click here for a map.
2 p.m. | Rye update | The fire chief of the Rye Fire Protection District said while he understands residents may be frustrated they cannot return home, it is not yet safe to do so. The fire is less than two miles from the town, Chief Ross Gallegos said, and fire activity has been unpredictable.
9 a.m. | Beulah phased re-entry | Residents of Beulah began a phased re-entry. The Aspen Acres Fire incident management team asked evacuees to follow the assigned re-entry time and route on their card, and not to arrive before that designated time.
In Custer County, a phased re-entry also began at 9 a.m. for residents of Wetmore. Sheriff Smith indicated a re-entry card would not be required, but identification is needed.
8:35 a.m. | Acreage update | The Aspen Acres Fire has grown to 98,609 acres, and containment increased to 36%, according to the incident management team.
A community meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at Centennial High School, 2525 Mountview Drive in Pueblo. The meeting will also be broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team #6 will be replacing the Alaska Team #1, and assuming command of the Aspen Acres Fire on Wednesday.
7:35 a.m. | Rye fire update | The Aspen Acres Fire remains 2 miles from the Town of Rye, according to the Rye Protection District.
Sunday, July 12
2:26 p.m. | Highway reopening | In an update, the Custer County Sheriff's Office provided the latest on highways reopening.
Here is what they listed out:
- Highway 165 is closed from Highway 96 (Mackenzie Junction) to the Pueblo County Line. Pueblo also has it closed from their line to the east. No change in status is anticipated for the next week or more.
- Highway 96 is currently closed from Silver Cliff, Colorado to Sioloam Road in Pueblo. (Local traffic can access Rosita Road and Bear Basin and other private driveways up to Mackenzie Junction).
- Highway 96 from Sioloam Road in Pueblo County will open Monday morning at 9 a.m. all the way to County Road 395 (between Wetmore and Greenwood). This is approximately mile marker 24.5 on Highway 96. It will remain closed from CR 395 to Mackenzie Junction.
- Highway 67 from Wetmore to Florence will be completely open at 9 a.m. Monday
9:51 a.m. | Community meeting | Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith will host a community meeting for Custer County residents at 7 p.m. Sunday, at the Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club Rodeo Arena, 90 County Road 241 in Westcliffe.
Saturday, July 11
5:25 p.m. | Beloved gathering spot destroyed | Denver7 is learning more about the 850 structures lost in the Aspen Acres Fire, including the loss of a beloved gathering spot: The Horseshoe Lodge.
Built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration, Denver7's Veronica Acosta shares more about what the Horseshoe Lodge meant to the Beulah community.
9:45 a.m. | Acreage latest, community meeting | The fire has burned 97,505 acres and containment stands at 34% as of Saturday morning. Custer County Sheriff Richard Smith will hold a community meeting on Sunday evening for residents in Westcliffe.
- 7 p.m. at Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club Rodeo Arena, 90 County Road 241.
▶️ In the video player below, Denver7 breaks down each Colorado wildfire update as of Saturday AM.
Friday, July 10
8:20 p.m. | Operations update | Operations Section Chief Zach Fleming from Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 1 reported that Friday was a "good day" on the fire with some cloud cover. Even with winds picked up, containment lines around the fire held fast, he said.
Crews on Friday completed some interior burning — meaning they purposefully burned fuel within the fire's perimeter — which they were mopping up Friday evening.
Aircraft flew over the east side of the fire on Friday to help secure those lines.
5 p.m. | Inside the community of Beulah | While some homes in the community of Beulah are left standing, others were destroyed by the Aspen Acres Fire, which has burned through 100,000 acres in Custer and Pueblo counties and destroyed at least more than 850 structures, according to officials.
Denver7's Veronica Acosta was invited to learn more about the damage on Friday morning and drive around the community with Alaska Complex Incident Management Team #1, which is currently managing the fire.
More on this story ⬇️
Wildfire
Aspen Acres Fire leaves parts of Beulah community nearly unrecognizable
11:15 a.m. | Evacuation update | Evacuation orders have been downgraded from mandatory to pre-evac for residents in the 3R Road, Signal Mountain, Colorado City, Lake Beckwith to Crow Cutoff, and areas east of Hwy. 165 to Ray Boulevard.
Rye and Beulah remain under mandatory evacuation orders.
10:51 a.m. | Pre-evacuation status lifted | The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office announced pre-evacuation status has now been lifted for the area west of Interstate 25, north of Cummings Street, east of S. Crow Cutoff/Haynes Road, and south of Jerry Bass Lane. This area now has no evacuation restrictions, and residents don't need re-entry cards.
9:40 a.m. | Operational update| Approximately 851 structures have been destroyed in the Aspen Acres Fire, operations section chief Brad Washa said Friday morning.
He said contingency lines are being established around Rye with a major concern about the fire becoming active there in the future. Crews said the fire appears contained around Bishop's Castle with dozer lines completely around the area, Washa said.
9:21 a.m. | Stage 3 fire restrictions | The Custer County Sheriff's Office announced Stage 3 fire restrictions Friday morning.
Stage 3 Fire Restrictions ban all of the following:
- Outdoor “hot work” such as grinding, welding, chainsaws, etc. (exemption for firefighters).
- Outdoor fire, campfire, charcoal, propane grill, tiki torches, outdoor cooking, etc.
- Outdoor smoking; such as tobacco, marijuana, pipes, cigarettes, etc.
- On-road or off-road diesel motor vehicle with a regenerative exhaust system that throws sparks out of the exhaust system.
- Fireworks, model rockets, etc. are banned, including professionally licensed fireworks vendors.
- No blasting of any kind allowed at any time.
- Drivers of all vehicles are urged to take precautions like:
- Not parking or driving over grass or weeds.
- Check that trailer chains are properly secured and will not drag along the pavement, which can generate sparks.
- Please consider adding a fire extinguisher to your motor vehicle and off-road vehicles.
6:45 a.m. | Latest on acreage and update on containment | The Aspen Acres was measured at 97,083 acres Friday morning, with 28% containment, according to the Aspen Acres Fire Facebook page. Approximately 1,900 people are working to contain the wildfire.
Thursday, July 9
9 p.m. | 'In for the long haul'| In a community meeting Thursday evening, officials stressed that despite some relief from the rain, they expect the fire to remain on the landscape for weeks.
"It's going to take a pretty good rain, and heaven forbid if it makes it into snowfall before it really snuffs this fire. So we're in for the long haul," Sam Harrell, the information officer with the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team, said in the Thursday evening update.
An incident meteorologist said the northern portion of fire received about 0.34" of rain, and the southern portion received over an inch. Still, fuels remain dry amid Colorado's ongoing drought, officials said.
"These thunderstorms... if it falls really fast, doesn't have time to penetrate from those fuels, so they can dry out really fast," Operations Section Chief Brad Washa with the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team said in the briefing.
Officials said they expect more hot, dry and windy conditions heading into the weekend.
Another community meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Westcliffe.
4 p.m. | Evacuations to lift Friday | The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said it anticipates lifting all evacuations in the southern part of the county on Friday.
1 p.m. | Downgrade in evacuation orders | The Fremont County Sheriff's Office has downgraded all areas in the county that were under an evacuation notice to a pre-evacuation notice.
12:24 p.m. | Prison facility closely monitoring conditions | Federal prison officials in Florence are closely monitoring the Aspen Acres Fire and coordinating with Fremont County emergency managers, but the complex is not currently threatened by the wildfire
10 a.m. | Operations update | Operations Section Chief Brad Washa with the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team provided an update on the current status of the Aspen Acres Fire.
He explained that the Rye area saw about 1 inch of rain, while the Beulah area did not see any. Infrared mapping still shows some heat within the fire's perimeter, so while the rain may have slowed the fire in the short-term, no resources have been released from the scene.
Washa said crews made good progress along the northern part of the fire, which had been tricky the past few days. He said it's possible for crews to gain some containment along the southern edge of the fire by the end of the day.
The area remains under a flash flood watch until about 8 p.m.
9:09 a.m. | Nearby fire update | The Pole Canyon Fire, which broke out Wednesday near the Aspen Acres Fire, is now 80% contained. The cause is unknown. It's less than two acres.
6:30 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | While containment has not increased on the Aspen Acres Fire, crews working in the wildfire area have continued to slow growth from 96,031 acres Wednesday morning to 96,121 acres Thursday morning, according to the Aspen Acres Fire 2026 Facebook page.
Wednesday, July 8
9 p.m. | 'A good day'| Operations Section Chief Zach Fleming of Alaska Complex Incident Management Team said in a Wednesday night update that it had been "a good day" for fighting the fire after significant rainfall in the afternoon.
After flash flood warnings in the area of the fire extended through 8:30 p.m., Fleming said the concern for Wednesday night's shift was road safety.
5:00 p.m. | Flash flood concerns | Denver7's Veronica Acosta reports on flash flood concerns. Watch in the video player below or read the story here.
4:02 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning is in effect for the area around the Aspen Acres Fire until 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Flash Flood Warning including Colorado City CO, Rye CO and Greenhorn CO until 7:00 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/H5PvrjDgbo
— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) July 8, 2026
3:33 p.m. | Pre-evacuations | Rockvale, Coal Creek and Williamsburg are now back on pre-evacuation status, according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. The southernmost portion of Fremont County will stay under evacuation orders, including the Los Pinos and Locke Mountain subdivisions.
3 p.m. | Mop-up status in some areas | The incident management team said some parts of the Aspen Acres Fire are "mopping up" the fire. They posted a video below showing the firefighters working around Colorado City.
2 p.m. | New fire nearby | The Huerfano County Fire Department said a new wildfire, called the Pole Canyon Fire, is burning south of Aspen Acres Fire. As of now, the Pole Canyon Fire is less than 2 acres. Multiple aircraft have already flown over the fire. It has been named the Pole Canyon Fire
11:30 a.m. | Update from Beulah Fire | The Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District posted an update on Facebook. They confirmed 193 primary residences have been destroyed.
"During this fire, some people chose not to evacuate and then left their properties to drive throughout the community. In some cases, individuals removed water from public sources believing they were helping firefighting efforts. While these actions may have been well-intentioned, they created additional hazards and diverted valuable resources," the department said.
"Now, as we begin recovery, we are seeing people attempting to reenter evacuated areas under false pretenses," the letter continues. "Every unauthorized entry takes personnel away from firefighting, damage assessment, utility restoration, and recovery operations."
While "the most aggressive fire behavior" moved beyond Beulah, conditions are still dangerous.
Read the full letter here or below.
9:03 a.m. | Help line | The Custer County Colorado Sheriff's Office opened an information line for questions from Custer County residents. It is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. The number is 719-467-0271.
6:49 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | The Aspen Acres Fire has burned through 96,031 acres, and currently is 15% contained, according to the Aspen Acres Fire 2026 Facebook page.
Tuesday, July 7
9:39 p.m. |Current evacs to stay in place| Fremont County officials are keeping current evacuation orders in place following a meeting Tuesday between Sheriff Cooper, Florence Fire Chief Bill Ritter and Aspen Fire leaders. Authorities said evacuations will be reassessed daily as fire conditions evolve.
3:06 p.m. |Containment expands as growth slows| The latest update from InciWeb suggests firefighters are beginning to gain the upper hand on the 93,634-acre blaze, with containment increasing from 13% to 15% as more than 800 personnel continue battling the fire.
7:05 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | The Aspen Acres Fire stands at 15% containment, according to the Aspen Acres Fire Facebook page, after having burned through 93,634 acres.
Monday, July 6
7:31 p.m. | Mandatory curfew | According to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, during the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. there is a mandatory curfew for the impacted areas of the Aspen Acres Fire. This includes people who are re-entering areas where evacuations have been lifted. No traffic will be allowed past any traffic control points during the curfew.
7 p.m. | DAC opens early | The Disaster Assistance Center will open early on Tuesday to accommodate those needing re-entry cards. The DAC will be issuing the cards beginning at 9 a.m. All other resources services will open at 11 a.m.
6 p.m. | Community Update | The Aspen Acres Fire has destroyed over 260 homes including Belinda Kalar-Minerich’s house. Denver7’s Maggy Wolanske spoke with the Beulah homeowner, who first moved to the area in 1998 and then came back in 2012. During her time living in the area, she said her family has been evacuated for other fires, but this one felt different.
“It's like, you know, the fuel and you just know it's coming over,” said Kalar-Minerich."I think everybody knew early on this is a different fire and this is not good.”
As the fire grew, Kalar-Minerich noticed how strong the wind was and smoke filling the skies. She left her home, grabbing the family cat, her great-grandmother's milk glass and pictures. On Sunday, she said officials told her the home was a total loss.
“Oh, I go back and forth where I start bawling like a baby, and then my neighbors, they lost their home. People that spent their life there, it’s just part of Beulah is gone,” said Kalar-Minerich.
While Kalar-Minerich has gone through immense devastation, her spirit was filled with strength for fighting this fire and gave advice to not give up on this future.
“Life is short, live every day to the fullest. Make memories. You could always start again, it’s not easy, you know. Do what you gotta do. Can't stop living, just keep going and this will be behind us," she said.
An online fundraiser has been created to support Kalar-Minerich and her family with these next steps. There also is another fundraiser set up to help three firefighters who have all lost their homes to the flames.
► Watch Maggy Wolanske's report in the player below:
Three cousins of Vanessa Harris are currently fighting this destructive force as Beulah Volunteer firefighters. She said fighting fires is in her family's blood and they are out there protecting the community they love.
“…And that's what eases my fears, is knowing my family and how we are with fires. We know how to control them better, and I'm extremely proud of them for doing what they're doing,” Harris said.
Her firefighting cousins are named Rosie Freeman, Hailey Wilcox, and Matthew Ryan with each one losing their homes to this fire.
“Once the fire is done, the pain doesn't stop. It's going to still be here,” said Harris. “They're still going to be children asking why and unfortunately, we can't give them those answers. So after the fire is gone, after the news crews leave, everybody's still going to be in pain and having to pick up their lives and that's when we really need to come in and just put our arms around them and support them.”
Larae Gallant is best friends with Rosie Freeman. They both went to Pueblo County High School together and named their kids after each other. Gallant said she is beyond proud of Freeman for her passion and dedication to serve her community on the frontlines.
“Rosie is the strongest, most giving, selfless person I have ever, ever known and anybody who knows her will tell you that. Hailey is following right in her footsteps,” said Gallant.
5:49 p.m. | Update from Fremont County | While the Aspen Acres Fire has not yet started to burn in Fremont County, evacuations are in place, said Fremont County Emergency Management Director Mykel Kroll during a video update on Monday.
Greg Owen, with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, said they were able to evacuate the impacted area within eight hours, which was impressive given how large it is.
Click here for the most up-to-date map with evacuations.
5:10 p.m. | Re-entry | The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said some residents in the county are now being allowed to re-enter their homes. This applies to people who live west of Interstate 25, north of Cummings Street, east of the S. Crow cutoff, east of Haynes Road and south of Jerry Bass Lane.
These homes are still under pre-evacuation notice. No other evacuations have been changed.
5 p.m. | Containment update | The containment of the Aspen Acres Fire has increased slightly, from 12% to 13%.
3:30 p.m. | Sheriff update | During a press conference Monday afternoon, the sheriffs of Pueblo County and Custer County provided updates on the firefighting tactics and destruction from the fire.
Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero confirmed that 185 homes have been destroyed in this fire, as well as four commercial businesses lost, in Pueblo County. About 10,000 people evacuated in the county, he said.
Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith confirmed that 78 homes have been destroyed in Custer County. In addition, one home has major damage, four have minor damage and one is "partially affected," he said. About 600 people evacuated from the county, Smith said. He added that roughly 1,000 people evacuated in Fremont County as well.
The Aspen Acres Fire is now the fifth-most destructive wildfire in Colorado history when it comes to homes lost.
Fire officials said thunderstorms are expected over the fire, but will bring erratic winds and lightning. They also have concerns about too much rain causing mudslides on the burned ground.
Lastly, they said they have no concerns about the fire reaching the Supermax prison.
The Disaster Assistance Center is at capacity and has closed for the day. It will reopen Tuesday at 11 a.m.
2:08 p.m. | Custer County sheriff update | The Custer County Sheriff's Office said that Wetmore volunteer firefighters did an "incredible job" protecting the town and have prevented the fire from destroying any homes. They said one home caught fire, but firefighters extinguished it.
Two barn-like structures were destroyed, the sheriff's office said.
Firefighters are building a fire break, which was completed on Monday, to protect Wetmore. However, evacuations remain in place.
The sheriff's office said there is a lot more damage in the Aspen Acres subdivision. A private meeting will be held for those residents.
1:35 p.m. | Update planned for tonight | Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 1 will provide an update on Monday's firefighting efforts at 7 p.m. at Centennial High School, located at 2525 Mountview Drive in Pueblo. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Aspen Acres Fire Facebook page.
1:23 p.m. | Community assistance | Resources are available for the communities impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire. Anybody who has been evacuated can stop by the Disaster Assistance Center, located at the Pueblo Academy of Arts (29 Lehigh Ave. in Pueblo).
The Joint Information Center is organizing a press briefing related to how the public can donate resources.
The United Way of Southern Colorado will provide this update at 1:30 p.m. We will post an update in this blog once we learn more.
11:35 a.m. | USFS closure expands | The U.S. Forest Service has expanded its closure for the Aspen Acres Fire to include more of the San Carlos Ranger District.
The Aspen Acres Fire area closure has been expanded to include more of the #SanCarlosRD. The purpose of this order is to provide for public health and safety related to the Aspen Acres Fire.
— USFS_Pike&San Isabel (@PSICC_NF) July 6, 2026
Additional information can be found on our website at https://t.co/gEULtWZko4. pic.twitter.com/qEocelbzCh
11:23 a.m. | Press conference scheduled | We're expecting to learn more about the current status of this fire during a press briefing at 3:30 p.m.
10:50 a.m. | Update from supermax | The Federal Correctional Complex in Florence "is actively monitoring and responding to the Aspen Acres Fire in southern Colorado," the Federal Bureau of Prisons told Denver7 on Monday morning.
It is in communication with the Fremont County Office of Emergency Management.
"At this time, the complex remains safe from any threats of wildfire activity and will continue to shelter in place as a precautionary measure. This posture prioritizes safety while ensuring officials remain prepared to act should conditions change," a spokesperson said.
10:45 a.m. | Wetmore update | The Custer County Sheriff's Office said both protective and preventative work is being done in the Wetmore area, just north of the fire. Air resources are supporting from the skies. As of this time, the fire is still south of Highway 96.
9 a.m. | Outlook for Monday | Firefighters are prepared to engage with any flare-ups while other crews work to secure dozer lines.
That will include south of Wetmore, where there is significant heat, and from Bishop's Castle down the Middle Creek Drainage, according to the incident management team.
Like Sunday, this area will likely see more thunderstorms with little moisture on Monday. These wind gusts may increase the fire's behavior in isolated areas.
8:46 a.m. | Colorado Springs firefighters heading back home | Firefighters with the CSFD are headed home after assisting at the Aspen Acres Fire.
"We couldn’t be more proud of the professionalism, dedication, and selfless service they demonstrated on every shift. When the call came, they packed their gear, left their families, and answered without hesitation. They immediately responded to help our neighbors."
8 a.m. | Summary of Sunday's efforts | Gusty and erratic winds from thunderstorms increased fire behavior on Sunday. Late in the day, these winds pushed flames north toward the Greenwood area and Wetmore. Firefighters worked through the night to protect structures and establish a fireline around Greenwood, according to Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 1.
On the fire's northeast edge, firefighters mopped up hot spots while protecting structures. Helicopters also dropped water in this area.
In Rye, firefighters mopped up hotspots near recently constructed dozer line as they worked to secure the north edge of the town.
The incident management team said it is working to connect more dozer lines from Colorado City.
The west side of the fire saw several flare-ups on Sunday along Highway 165 near Middle Creek and the North Creek area.
7 a.m. | Acreage update and latest on containment | The Aspen Acres Fire has burned through 91,523 acres, according to an update from the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team working at the fire. It is at 12% contained.
More than 1,300 people are working around the fire.
Below is a map showing the containment lines, which are in black.
6:30 a.m. | Aspen Acres Fire community meeting | There will be a community meeting for those impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire at 7 p.m. Monday, the Custer County Sheriff's Office said Monday morning. It will be hosted at Centennial High School in Pueblo. Otherwise, the community can watch it streamed live on the Aspen Acres Fire 2026 Facebook page.
Denver7 is tracking the latest information on each of the wildfires burning in Colorado. If you'd like to catch up on coverage from last week, check out stories from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the weekend.
◼️ MORE | Extensive Denver7 coverage of Colorado wildfires
Sunday, July 5
10:35 p.m. | Evening update from incident command team | Operations Section Chief Zach Fleming of the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 1 provided an update on the current situation at the Aspen Acres Fire.
Outflow winds from a passing storm created "a very strong easterly push," where the fire's edge began making a run toward Wetmore, he said. It traveled about two miles. Around 10 p.m., a westerly wind moved in, which slowed the fire's progress.
Even with the shifty winds, the lines firefighters that put in near Colorado City held well, Fleming said.
8:14 p.m. | New evacuations | The Town of Williamsburg has been ordered to evacuate.
8:03 p.m. | New evacuations | All areas that were previously under a pre-evacuation status in Fremont County must now evacuate. That includes:
- Fremont County Roads 15, 103, and 100
- Newlin Ridge Road
- Los Pinos subdivision
- Lock Mountain Estates
- The towns of Coal Creek and Rockvale
"The previously announced pre-evacuation area along Highway 67, extending approximately 4.5 miles north from the Custer County line, 2 miles east, and 2.5 miles west, is also under mandatory evacuation," officials added.
10:30 a.m. | Containment increases | The Aspen Acres Fire is now 13% contained, officials said.
In an update from the Operations Section Chief Brad Washa of Alaska Complex Incident Management Team #1 on Sunday morning, officials said they are hearing crews are moving more toward mop-up efforts along some parts of the fire's edge.