A rapidly spreading wildfire has forced thousands of residents out of their homes across Pueblo and Custer counties in southern Colorado, with the blaze burning more than 23,000 acres and remaining completely uncontained as of Monday evening.
The Aspen Acres Fire was first reported around 5:30 a.m. on Monday near the Aspen Acres campground along Highway 165, close to the community of Rye.
By afternoon, the fire had exploded in size, driven by wind gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour.
Firefighting crews on the ground worked continuously to protect structures, but the extreme wind conditions forced officials to cancel air support, leaving ground teams as the only line of defense against the fast-moving blaze.
Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero confirmed at a press conference that at least four homes had been destroyed, though the full extent of property damage remained unknown.
More than 2,700 homes were evacuated, and no injuries had been reported as of Monday evening. The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation.
Towns Emptied, Roads Closed as Fire Grows
Mandatory evacuation orders covered a wide stretch of southern Colorado, including the towns of Beulah, Rye, and San Isabel, along with neighborhoods along 12 Mile Road, Lazy Acres, Bishop Castle, 3R Road to Crow Cutoff, Waterbarrel Road, and Burnt Mill Road to Interstate 25.
Residents in affected areas who needed help evacuating were directed to call 911 immediately.
Colorado Highway 165 was shut down in both directions from mile point 11 near Fairview to mile point 31.2 near Colorado City. Highway 78 was also closed from its junction with Highway 165 to Waterbarrel Road.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency Monday morning and authorized the Colorado National Guard to assist with fire response.
The declaration activated the State Emergency Operations Plan and directed the Department of Public Safety to coordinate containment, recovery, and mitigation efforts, including engine and hand crews, aerial resources, and an incident management team.
Evacuation Centers Open Across the Region
Several shelters were established to support displaced residents. The Pueblo County Recreation Center at 1650 Cooper Place opened as the primary evacuation center and accepted household pets.
The Wetmore Community Center at 95 County Road 393 also opened its doors to evacuees. Large animals and livestock were directed to the Colorado State Fairgrounds, where entry was through Gate 7 off Small Avenue.
The YMCA of Pueblo offered free access to evacuees on Monday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from noon to 9 p.m., with proof of evacuation required.
Smoke from the fire blanketed the city of Pueblo throughout the afternoon, prompting a health advisory from the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment.
Residents were urged to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid outdoor activity. All outdoor programs in Pueblo County were canceled for the day.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity through Monday evening, and Sheriff Lucero implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions across the county, prohibiting campfires, fireworks, and any activity that could ignite a spark.
