Aspen Acres Fire: Air quality moderate due to smoky conditions

Aspen Acres Fire: Air quality moderate due to smoky conditions

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(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — The Aspen Acres Fire in Southern Colorado has burned 101,965 acres as of Monday, Aug. 10. The fire is now 72% contained, and 133 personnel are battling the fire, according to the Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 5.

Humidity levels are expected to increase Monday and Tuesday as moisture moves into the area, bringing a chance of thunderstorms and rainfall. There is a 70% chance of thunderstorms both days, with up to 0.25 inches of precipitation possible. Thunderstorms may also produce wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

Temperatures will remain hot, with highs in the 90s at lower elevations and 80s at higher elevations. The increase in moisture will raise relative humidity values by approximately 10% early in the week, with only the lowest elevations expected to see humidity levels drop below 20%.

Fire operations update

  • The Aspen Acres Fire area experienced warmer temperatures and increased winds over the weekend.
  • Crews remain focused on suppression repair activities, including removing berms, dispersing slash, and installing water bars to improve drainage and minimize erosion.
  • Incident personnel would like to remind everyone that a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire area. Drones and other unauthorized aircraft can interfere with firefighting operations and may force suppression aircraft to stop flying. If you fly, they can’t.
  • Near Lake Isabel, smoke remains visible in areas where steep terrain has limited the use of direct suppression measures.
  • Indirect containment lines and structure protection measures remain in place to support fire management objectives, and helicopter buckets may be used to reduce fire spread in this area of uncontained fireline in advance of predicted rain.
  • Suppression repair remains the focus, with heavy equipment actively restoring and repairing firelines throughout the incident area.
  • Crews are also continuing efforts, in conjunction with landowners, to replace fences damaged by the fire. Depending on the weather, it is estimated that at least one week of this work remains.
  • According to the Fire and Smoke map from the U.S. Forest Service, air quality is moderate, indicating that those sensitive to air quality should reduce outdoor activity and go inside to cleaner air if symptoms appear.

Map of fire

An updated map of the Aspen Acres Fire is shown below. Containment lines are depicted in black.


Aspen Acres Fire map Monday, Aug. 10
Aspen Acres Fire map Monday, Aug. 10

Evacuations for Aspen Acres Fire

  • All evacuation zones have been reduced to either pre-evacuation or clear status. For zones in pre-evacuation status, people must receive a re-entry card from their respective county. Upon return, homeowners should be prepared to leave again if weather or fire conditions worsen.
  • People are advised to call the Joint Information Center at (719) 583-4640 for information about closures, evacuations, Disaster Assistance Center information, and more for Pueblo and Custer Counties.
  • The Custer County Sheriff’s Office has also opened an information line for community members in Custer County.
    • The information line is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • The number is (719) 467-0271.
    • If the line is busy, people are asked to leave a message and wait for a call back.
  • For Huerfano and Fremont counties, people should visit their county’s social media pages or call (719) 738-1044 for Huerfano County dispatch and (719) 276-7421 for the Fremont County Emergency Operations Center.

Shelter, other information for evacuees

  • Lange Hall
    • 3rd St, Westcliffe
    • Small animals accepted
  • Pueblo County Recreation Center
    • 1650 Cooper Place
    • Small animals accepted
  • Pathfinder Park: Livestock and large animals
    • 6639 Highway 115, Florence
  • Colorado State Fairgrounds: Livestock and large animals
    • 1001 Beulah Avenue
    • Enter Gate 7 off of Small Avenue
    • Animal release steps from the Pueblo County Community Animal Response Team
      • Animal releases from the grounds are open from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
      • Enter through Gate 7; after that, people will be sent to the paperwork station.
      • People should prepare to provide ownership information for their animals either by providing brand papers, a bill of sale, vet health records, or other related documentation.
        • If those items are unavailable due to the disaster, contact Pueblo County Brand Inspector Zach Kuhn at (719) 225-0137
  • Fire Information Phone Line
    • (719) 697-8353
  • Official Fire Information
  • Joint Information Center
    • The public can call (719) 583-4640
  • Colorado Disaster Recovery
  • Disaster Assistance Center
    • Lange Hall, 310 South 3rd Street, Westcliffe.
    • D.A.C hours:
      • Monday – Friday: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
      • Saturday: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
  • Colorado 2-1-1
    • Wildfire Resources, or call 211 for fire information or resources. English: 1-844-975-1881 and Spanish: 1-844-975-1882.
  • Aspen Acres Fire Disaster Portal
  • Crisis Cleanup Hotline
    • Those who need assistance with cleanup can contact the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at (970) 283-7325 to request volunteer help with debris removal, ash cleanup, and other eligible recovery needs.

Recovery Assistance Center in Pueblo

The following hours and location information are for the Recovery Assistance Center in Pueblo:

  • The RAC is located at Beulah Heights Elementary, 2670 Delphinium Street.
  • Beginning Monday, Aug. 3, RAC will be open Monday-Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • The RAC will be closed Thursday through Sunday.
The Recovery Assistance Center is changing its hours of operation beginning Mon, Aug. 3. RAC will open Mon, Tues. and Wed. from 10-2 p.m. at Beulah Heights School, 2670 Delphinium St. RAC will be closed Thursday through Sunday.

Structures lost due to Aspen Acres Fire

The latest updates on structures lost due to the Aspen Acres Fire:

  • According to Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero, the number of homes and commercial properties destroyed in Pueblo County is 241.
    • Sheriff Lucero said the lost structures include 208 in Beulah, 28 in Rye, two in Colorado City, and three in unincorporated Pueblo County.
  • Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith said the total in Custer has climbed to 85.

Road closures due to Aspen Acres Fire

Follow the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for the latest closures at COtrip.org.

Southern Colorado Wildfire Relief: Where to donate

The United Way of Southern Colorado has organized several ways for the community to donate and help those impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire.

Information on how to donate is below:

Visit unitedwaysoco.org/emergencyinfo to donate, view the current list of needed items, and learn more.