The Aspen Acres Fire continues to tear through southern Colorado, where officials say it has destroyed 55 homes in Custer County and more than 100 structures in Pueblo County.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the wildfire had expanded to 28,314 acres and remained 0% contained. Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero said in a news conference that fire crews are pushing hard to slow its spread while working to protect homes in its path.
Zakary Bruce
Mandatory evacuations are in place for areas threatened by the fire, including Beulah, Rye and San Isabel. An evacuation center has been opened at Pueblo County Parks and Recreation, 1650 Cooper Place in Pueblo. Residents evacuating with large animals can take them to the Colorado State Fairgrounds. Updated evacuation information is available at pueblosheriff.org.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with every family, business owner, rancher and resident who has been affected by the Aspen Acres Fire,” Lucero said. “We know this has been an incredibly stressful and emotional time. Many people have had to leave their homes, not knowing what they may return to, and I want everyone to know that the safety and well-being of our community remain our highest priority.”
Pueblo County
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Aerial resources were also brought in Tuesday, with eight air tankers among the aircraft helping crews battle the flames from above.
Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the fire. One firefighter has been injured while working the blaze, but officials said no other injuries have been reported.
For some residents, the damage has already been devastating. Beulah resident Zakary Bruce said he was forced to leave quickly as the fire intensified, only to learn later that his home had been lost.
“The next day, I found out from my neighbor that it was gone entirely,” Bruce said. “The house, the land, my old car, even the guest cabin and shop were all leveled, either from the blaze itself or the propane tank exploding from the pure heat and cinders of the wildfire.”
“As for everything in that house, it’s all either reduced to metal slag or ashes. Several years’ worth of memories, gone within the span of 30 minutes.”
The Aspen Acres Fire was one of nine major wildfires burning in Colorado on Tuesday. The Big Sheep Fire is located further south in the state than the Aspen Acres Fire. It’s located in Huerfano County and has burned more than 1,100 acres, according to the governor’s office.
