More than 48,000 acres have burned in Pueblo and Custer counties, and the Aspen Acres fire remained at 0% containment Wednesday after growing by about 20,000 acres since Tuesday.
Strong winds and low humidity drove rapid fire movement, triggering new mandatory and pre-evacuation orders across Wetmore, Beulah, Rye, San Isabel and other areas; none of the earlier evacuations had been lifted.
180 structures have now been affected, up from more than 150 a day earlier, as deputies went door to door warning residents and helping some leave.
500 to 750 firefighters were expected along the perimeter in coming days, lifting the total response to 750 to 1,000, while an Alaska incident command team prepares to take over Thursday.
Red flag warnings remain in place through Thursday, with a fire weather watch for Friday and no major weather relief expected by week’s end.
As megafires become the new norm, are suppression-heavy tactics a losing battle against Colorado’s changing climate and landscape?
With Colorado facing a historic fire crisis, is the new federal firefighting agency streamlining the response or creating more chaos?
35,467-Acre Aspen Acres Fire Remains Uncontained: Road Closures, Evacuations, and Regional Emergency Response
Overview
As of July 2, 2026, the Aspen Acres Fire is causing major challenges for the region, especially by disrupting transportation infrastructure. Widespread road closures, such as the shutdown of Highway 96 and other key routes, are making travel difficult and affecting evacuation efforts. These closures highlight the immediate threat to local communities and show how the fire is impacting daily life. At the same time, authorities are actively investigating the cause of the fire. The situation remains serious, with ongoing risks and a strong need for residents to stay alert and follow official guidance.