Aspen Acres Fire Scorches 92,000 Acres in Colorado, Forcing Evacuations Into Week 2
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 7
Aspen Acres Fire Scorches 92,000 Acres in Colorado, Forcing Evacuations Into Week 2
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 7
Summary
Nearly 92,000 acres have burned since June 29 as the Aspen Acres Fire kept families from returning home and pushed evacuations across parts of Custer, Pueblo, Fremont and Huerfano counties.
Beulah resident Thomas Sexton said he fled minutes before flames reached his property; his home, barn and most belongings were destroyed after 22 years there.
Volunteer firefighter Rosie and her daughter Haley also lost their home while battling the blaze, prompting relatives and friends to raise money for housing and recovery.
The fire had already destroyed 263 homes and four commercial buildings by Monday, with 11,600 residents evacuated and containment at 12%, underscoring the scale of the disaster.
With hundreds of homes destroyed, how can Colorado rebuild communities to be resilient against the next inevitable megafire?
As high-tech drones battle the blaze, are nature-based solutions like 'wet fuel breaks' the real long-term answer?
Aspen Acres Fire 2026: 89,000 Acres Burned, 160+ Structures Lost, and the Fight for Colorado’s Resilience
Overview
As of July 7, 2026, the Aspen Acres Fire remains a major challenge, with damage assessment teams still unable to safely enter some burned neighborhoods. This has left many residents frustrated, as officials cannot access certain areas to provide clear answers about the fate of their homes. Authorities are directly notifying those whose homes have been destroyed, but the uncertainty continues for others. To address this, two meetings are scheduled at the Custer County School in Westcliffe to privately share damage updates with evacuees, especially those from the most severely affected areas.