The Aspen Acres Fire, the state's largest so far this season, was estimated to have burned more than 86,000 acres by Sunday morning, but firefighters gained some ground as containment increased to 13%.
The fire, burning southwest of Pueblo in both Pueblo and Custer counties, has destroyed more than 180 structures.
On Sunday, a damage assessment team assessed almost all the homes along Highway 165 from Highway 96 south to Lake Isabel. Those results will be released at a later time.
Meanwhile, new evacuations were announced Sunday for the 3,000-acre Willow Fire, burning southwest of Turquoise Lake and west of the City of Leadville.
Residents on or in the area of CR 11, CR 11A, and Lake Fork Trailer Park are being ordered to leave immediately as the 0% contained fire threatens to move into the area.
Denver7 is covering this wildfire, as well as the others that continue to burn around Colorado's mountains and Western Slope.
We covered these wildfires in-depth each day this week: Here are our stories from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Below are the latest details on each of the wildfires as of Saturday.
All of the below information on Colorado's wildfires will be updated as we learn more. All fire perimeter maps below are courtesy of Watch Duty.
Aspen Acres Fire
- 📍Custer and Pueblo counties
- Size: 86,983 acres (as of Sunday)
- Containment: 13% (as of Sunday)
- Start date: June 29
- Cause: Human, under investigation
The Aspen Acres Fire, burning in Custer and Pueblo counties about 15 miles northwest of Colorado City, is the largest wildfire currently burning in Colorado, with approximately 800 personnel fighting the blaze.
The fire that has destroyed more than 180 structures grew to more than 86,000 acres by Sunday morning. But containment grew to 13% from no containment just a day earlier.
On Sunday, a damage assessment team assessed almost all the homes along Highway 165 from Highway 96 south to Lake Isabel. Those results will be released at a later time.
EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES |Evacuations are in place across Custer, Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano counties. Call the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 719-583-4640 for information about closures, evacuations and disaster assistance. View an interactive map here.
Mandatory evacuations, as listed by the Pueblo County sheriff's office as of Saturday afternoon (includes areas of Custer County):
- All of Colorado City
- Burnt Mill Road, this includes west Hatchett Ranch, Burnt Mill Road
- Red Creek area from Siloam Road East to the area of Red Creek Springs Road West and Highway 96 West.
- Wetmore
- Red Creek Ranch area north of Highway 78, south of Highway 96, and west of Siloam Road.
- Areas south of Highway 96 including Highway 165 south to the Pueblo County line.
- Town of Beulah
- Town of Rye
- Town of San Isabel
- Burnt Mill Rd East to Interstate 25
- South of Lake Isabel to Rye, 2 mile evacuation from San Isabel
- From Lazy Acres to Bishops Castle on Hwy 165
- 12 Mile Road
- 3R Road to Crow Cutoff
- Crow Cutoff west to Boulder Avenue
Custer County sheriff provided this interactive map of evacuation areas Saturday.
- In Huerfano County: Between the eastern boundary of USFS land and the intersection of County Road 207 and 660 by Apache City
- Pre-evacuations:
- Southern Fremont County, including properties along Highway 67 south of Florence to the Custer County line (includes Rockvale, Coal Creek and the subdivisions of Newlin Ridge and Locke Mountain). Check your address on this interactive map.
- Southern Fremont County, including properties along Highway 67 south of Florence to the Custer County line (includes Rockvale, Coal Creek and the subdivisions of Newlin Ridge and Locke Mountain). Check your address on this interactive map.
An evacuation center, disaster assistance center and livestock evacuation center are set up. Here's a breakdown of what each can provide.
Highway 165, Highway 78, and Highway 96 are closed in this area. Highway 78 is closed between Highway 165 and Rock Creek Road, and Highway 67 is closed between Wetmore and milepoint 3.
The historic Horseshoe Lodge in Pueblo Mountain Park sustained significant damage, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said.
FRIDAY UPDATES | The Aspen Acres Fire is estimated to have burned through about 81,850 acres by Friday night. Strong overnight winds pushed it to make an eight-mile run to the south, a four- to five-mile run to the north and a one-mile run to the west, according to the incident management team.
Structure protection crews are ahead of the fire to prepare homes as the fire continues to advance.
During an update on Friday morning, Operations Section Chief Brad Washa said the weather is the main factor driving this fire's growth. The southeast section of the fire made a major push overnight, he said. The top priority is this area and the rest of the southern edge, with the second priority being the northern section of the fire.
National Guard soldiers are expected to arrive on Friday — many will replace deputies that have been staffing checkpoints of closed roads across Custer and Pueblo counties. The National Guard reinforcements will allow the sheriff's deputies to increase patrols of evacuated areas, according to fire officials.
A red flag warning is in effect with hotter temperatures and southwesterly winds between 5 to 15 mph, gusts around 25 mph in the valleys and 35 mph gusts on the ridges. Humidity remains in the single digits.
Denver7 reached out to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Friday to learn more about what ADX Florence, a supermax prison, would do if they must evacuate due to this fire, which is about 10 miles away as of the most recent mapping. A spokesperson provided the below statement:
"Every BOP facility has contingency plans in place to address a large range of concerns or incidents, including natural disasters, and is fully equipped and prepared to implement these plans as necessary. For safety and security reasons, the Bureau of Prisons’ contingency plans are sensitive and not available to the public."
SUMMARY OF FIRE HISTORY | The Aspen Acres Fire had "significant activity" Wednesday afternoon and spread farther west into forests and east toward Siloam Road. The southeast part of the fire saw "extreme fire behavior," according to the incident command team. Several large and very large airtankers flew over the fire on Wednesday.
More firefighters arrived Thursday ahead of another day of extreme fire behavior. Many of them worked in Beulah to mop up burned areas, put out hotspots and strengthen defenses. Two multi-engine water-scooping aircraft dropped water along the southern edge of the fire, where the fire is moving toward Rye and Colorado City.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis visited Pueblo County on Thursday to meet with Coloradans impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire and thank first responders and volunteers.
He verbally declared a disaster emergency for this fire on June 29. Later that day, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for this fire.
Ferris Fire (includes Far Draw Fire & Doe Canyon Fire)
- 📍Montezuma and Dolores counties
- Size: 38,274 acres (as of Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)
- Containment: 9% (as of Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)
- Start date: June 27
- Cause: Lightning
The Ferris Fire began burning in far northern Montezuma County before making a massive run north into Dolores County. Crews have 9% containment on the fire as of Saturday, a slight decrease from Friday as the fire saw significant growth on the western side of the fire, prompting new evacuations, according to incident team updates.
In a Saturday morning update, the incident management team said the fire had crossed the Dolores River and climbed to the west rim. Around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the incident team said the fire had moved onto private land, prompting "set status" for a new area.
"Extremely active fire behavior is expected again today," officials said in the Saturday update. "Heavy helicopters, scooper planes and air tankers will continue to assist ground resources and protect private lands and infrastructure."
EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES | Evacuations have been in place since last Saturday for this wildfire. Several new ones have were added Friday and Saturday on the west side of the fire. For an interactive map of evacuations, visit this page.
Anybody who evacuated is welcome to come to the Pleasant View Fire Station at 15235 Road CC.
To learn about properties affected by this fire, call the Joint Information Center at 719-583-4640.
FRIDAY UPDATES | The "super scooper" planes out of Alaska will began pulling water from McPhee Reservoir on Friday to dump on the Ferris Fire. Large air tankers and single-engine airtankers will also help from the skies.
The fire was expected to reach the Dolores River to the west on Thursday, but has not yet done so as of Friday morning, according to the incident management team.
Operations Section Chief Toby Cook said during an update just before 2 p.m. that more containment was added along the southern end of the fire. Firefighters are doing proactive work along the north and southeast sides.
SUMMARY OF FIRE HISTORY | The Ferris Fire began burning near Narraguinnep Canyon, about 15 miles northwest of Dolores, on June 27. The nearby Doe Canyon Fire and Far Draw Fire merged with the Ferris Fire, so the blaze is now being managed as the Ferris Fire.
Crews have been prioritizing the northeast corner of the fire, which is closest to private land, according to the official Ferris Fire Facebook page.
On Wednesday, the fire backed down Doe Canyon and other nearby canyons leading to the Dolores River
A hotshot crew joined the effort on Thursday along the fire's northeast corner near Benchmark Lookout. Firefighters are already constructing fireline here to stop the fire's spread toward the Glade Ranch subdivision, which has already been evacuated. Operations Section Chief Toby Cook said in an update at 3:30 p.m. Thursday that crews made good progress along the northern edges of the fire. Firefighters are ready to begin containment in that area, he said. Containment lines were also put in along the southern part of the fire, Cook said.
Multiple aircraft worked around the blaze Thursday, including three heavy and one light helicopter, large air tankers and single-engine airtankers. Two "super scooper" aircraft from Alaska began traveling to Colorado on Thursday.
Dolores Volunteer Fire & Rescue has responded to this fire and is accepting donations.
Stage 2 fire restrictions went into place for the San Juan National Forest on Wednesday, prohibiting all campfires.
Gold Mountain Fire
- 📍Ouray County
- Size: 24,460 acres (as of Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)
- Containment: 0% (as of Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)
- Start date: June 27
- Cause: Unknown; possibly a tree fell on a power line
The Gold Mountain Fire burning in Ouray County continues to inch its way farther north and northeast toward the far southwest corner of Gunnison County, which has issued an evacuation warning.
On top of already-dangerous conditions, firefighters have faced the challenge of steep terrain around this wildfire. The fire remained active Thursday and Friday night, mainly on the east side, according to the incident team.
"Heat and low humidity are promoting favorable conditions for active fire growth," the incident management team wrote in a Saturday update.
EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES | Evacuations have been in place since Sunday. Click here for an interactive map of all current evacuations. An evacuation center has been set up at the Ridgway Secondary School, located at 1200 Green St. in Ridgway.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has closed public access to the Cimarron State Wildlife Area in Montrose County due to this fire. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests have issued closure orders for the Gold Mountain Wildfire Area.
Highway 550 remained closed Saturday.
FRIDAY UPDATES | While the fire was active on Thursday, it did not make the northward push that fire officials had predicted, the incident management team reported on Friday morning.
Fire activity has increased along the western flank in the Cutler Creek and Baldy Peak area above US 550, and various aircraft were used to slow the spread here.
Crews are doing proactive work ahead of the story to the northwest, Operations Section Chief Jeramy Dietz said Friday morning.
A red flag warning is in effect from noon to 8 p.m.
SUMMARY OF FIRE HISTORY | Ouray County declared a state of emergency on Sunday, June 28 for this fire, which originated on U.S. Forest Service land two miles northeast of the City of Ouray.
The fire pushed east across the Cow Creek drainage and up Stealey Mountain on Tuesday, as it also made a run northeast toward Owl Creek Pass, according to an incident management team.
US 550 north of Ouray was closed for some time, but reopened on Wednesday at 1 p.m. However, drivers should be prepared for emergency road enclosures at any time. Stopping or standing on the highway in this area is not permitted. As of Friday morning, crews have been able to keep the fire away from values at risk along US 550.
The Ouray Volunteer Fire Department is responding to this fire and is accepting donations here. The Ouray County's emergency response team reports there is an immediate need for drinks, including bottled water, sodas, sports drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages. Here's how to help.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency in response to the Gold Mountain Fire on Sunday.
Willow Fire
- 📍Lake County, west of Leadville
- Size: 2,969 acres (as of Saturday, 10 a.m.)
- Containment: 0% (as of Saturday, 10 a.m.)
- Start date: June 28
- Cause: Unknown
New evacuations in the 3,000-acre Willow Fire, burning southwest of Turquoise Lake and west of the City of Leadville, were announced Sunday. Residents on or in the area of CR 11, CR 11A, and Lake Fork Trailer Park are being ordered to leave immediately as the 0% contained fire threatens to move into the area.
Leadville proper remains under an evacuation warning. New evacuations were ordered for the area south of the fire Friday evening, and 178 homes were put under pre-evacuations, according to a Saturday morning update.
New pre-evacuations were issued Saturday for the area southeast of the lake "out of an abundance of caution."
Fire officials said "a full suppression strategy remains underway" for this fire. No structures have been lost and nobody has been injured in this fire.
Fire officials said Friday that they have dealt with some spot fires a quarter mile and half mile outside the main blaze.
EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES | An interactive map of current evacuations is here.
An evacuation center is located at the Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus.
Half Moon Road and its camping areas are also closed as a precaution ahead of the holiday weekend.
Multiple roads are closed in the area for first responders, including Turquoise Lake Road, Highway 300 at County Road 5 and County 5A (Fish Hatchery Loop), County Road 9 and County Road 99 intersection (Leadville Junction), and County Road 4 and County Road 48 (Turquoise Lake Dam entrance).
FRIDAY UPDATES | Firefighters will conduct fire operations in the Twin Mounds area to limit damage to power lines, as the fire keeps moving downhill toward Turquoise Lake.
"Fire behavior analysts expect increased activity along the eastern flanks of the fire due to wind forecasts and sustained 20 mile-per-hour winds will likely exacerbate fire movement along ridge lines," according to the incident management team.
A group of firefighters is prepared to attack any flames that may land on the northern side of the lake.
Firefighters began establishing containment lines in the area of Forest Road 105, 105A and a nearby ridge on Thursday, according to the incident management team. This will likely take about five days to complete, so the effort will continue Friday.
A red flag warning is in effect until midnight Friday.
SUMMARY OF FIRE HISTORY | On Sunday afternoon, the Lake County Office of Emergency Management announced evacuations for the Willow Fire, which is burning on U.S. Forest Service land south of Turquoise Lake and west of the City of Leadville. It is about two miles northwest of the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.
Denver7 reached out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday to hear how hatchery staff is protecting the fish in its care. Their full statement is below:
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, mobilized an evacuation effort to relocate greenback cutthroat trout and Hayden Creek cutthroat trout from the Leadville National Fish Hatchery due to the nearby Willow Fire. The fish were safely transported to one of three Colorado state-owned hatcheries: Roaring Judy, Durango, and Mt. Shavano. Because of their unique genetic significance, the fish were housed in isolated facilities at each hatchery to protect them from potential disease exposure and prevent genetic mixing with other populations.
We will continue to work closely with our state partners to help ensure the safety of personnel while safeguarding these important native trout for future conservation efforts."
Firefighters worked to connect potential containment lines around the northwest side of the fire on Thursday as they continued to strengthen structure protection around Turquoise Lake, according to the incident management team.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for this fire on Monday morning. Sign up for emergency alerts here.
Snyder Fire/Snyder Mesa Fire
- 📍Mesa County on Colorado-Utah border
- Size: 30,202 acres (as of Saturday, 8 a.m.)
- Containment: 95% (as of Friday, 8 a.m.)
- Start date: June 26
- Cause: Lightning
Growth at the Snyder Fire on the Colorado-Utah line has been minimal, despite critical fire conditions this week. Firefighters were able to increase containment to 95% by Friday evening, and most of this containment is along the eastern, northern and southwestern edges.
"The fire maintained its footprint through recent critical fire weather, a key factor in reaching 95% containment," the incident management team wrote in a Saturday update.
Three firefighters died fighting this fire during a burnover incident on June 27. They have been identified as Emily Barker, 38, Nick Hutcherson, 27, and Sydney Watson, 27.
Wildfire
Family grieves 'brave' and 'kind' firefighter killed in Snyder Fire
EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES | No evacuations are in place.
Road closures remain on A 2/10 Road at DS Road in Glade Park and BS Road at 11 5/10 Road in Glade Park, according to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.
Emergency closures are in place along the Colorado River downstream of Fruita until the Utah state line. An operations section chief said Tuesday that they had to rescue almost 120 people over the weekend from the area. Anybody floating the Colorado River must end their trip at the Fruita boat ramp, as there are no river takeout points between Fruita and the Utah state line, officials said.
This closure is expected to last through the Fourth of July weekend.
Wildfire
120 people, 6 dogs, 1 cat rescued as Snyder Fire approached Colorado River
FRIDAY UPDATES | Smoke from other fires is impacting the Grand Valley region, but this fire is not expected to grow significantly on Friday.
"Relatively cooler fuel temperatures and lighter wind are anticipated to help keep the fire in its current footprint," the incident management team reported Friday.
SUMMARY OF FIRE HISTORY | Firefighters were able to gain some containment at the Snyder Fire burning in Mesa County on the Utah-Colorado line on Tuesday evening as activity was "relatively low," according to the incident management team.
That containment increased to nearly 50% on Wednesday evening. More resources arrived Thursday to help on the southeastern side of the Snyder Fire.
The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit reported that lightning started this fire.
Gov. Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency in response to this fire on Saturday, June 27.
Big Sheep Fire
- 📍 Huerfano County
- Size: 1,322 acres (as of Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)
- Containment: 65% (as of Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)
- Start date: June 29
- Cause: Unknown
The Big Sheep Fire, also called Sheep Head Fire, in Huerfano County increased its burn footprint slightly but containment rose to 65% Friday evening and held Saturday.
It is burning west of Big Sheep Mountain and north of La Veta Pass in Huerfano County. It started on Monday. The fire has been wind- and terrain-driven, fire officials said.
EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES | The Huerfano County Sheriff's Office said Monday evening that the area "between the fire and Highway 69 and to Farisita" is under a pre-evacuation notice as a precaution. These orders remain in place Thursday.
FRIDAY UPDATES | Aircraft will help extend containment lines in areas where crews on the ground cannot reach, the incident management team reported.
Red flag conditions are expected until midnight Friday.
SUMMARY OF FIRE HISTORY | The Big Sheep Fire is burning west of Big Sheep Mountain and north of La Veta Pass in Huerfano County.
It started on Monday. Evacuations were briefly ordered on June 29 before they were downgraded to pre-evacuation status.
A Colorado State Incident Management Team took over operations Thursday.
Click here to sign up for alerts for this fire.
Editor's Note: The Dry Creek Fire and 11 Fire are both 100% contained and therefore not on this list anymore.