Aspen Acres fire: Fire grows to 85,000 acres, but officials hopeful weather will help Saturday

Updated at 7:53 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026

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The Aspen Acres fire burning near Pueblo grew by more than 12,000 acres Friday to more than 86,000 acres by Saturday evening, but officials are hopeful that more favorable weather will slow the fire’s growth.

Around 8 p.m. Saturday, the fire was 6% contained.

Officials say higher relative humidity and cloud cover could help firefighters make progress on extinguishing the blaze. An additional 300 firefighters arrived to help fight the fire Friday, and officials say more are expected Saturday. Dozer line crews are working north of Rye, west of Colorado City and on the eastern edge along Muddy Creek. More than 730 personnel are working on the fire.

In the early morning hours on Friday, the Pueblo County Sheriff evacuated Colorado City, and by afternoon, everyone in the community of Wetmore in Custer County was also told to leave immediately. There are evacuations in Custer, Pueblo, Fremont and Huerfano counties.

On Thursday, the United Way of Southern Colorado set up a donation center near the St. Charles Mesa Recreation Center. By Friday morning, there were donations of food, blankets, clothing, pet supplies, shoes, baby gear, toiletries and more. Cars and trucks continually pulled into the drop-off area with more items while dozens of volunteers sorted it all out.

Shanna Farmer, the President and CEO for United Way of Southern Colorado, said they are accepting monetary donations on the United Way of Southern Colorado website, and the physical donation center will be available for as long as it’s needed.

At a morning briefing Saturday, Brad Washa, with the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 1, said crews are feeling better today than in past days.

*A firefighting plane lifts off from the reservoir at Lake Pueblo State Park for water as the Aspen Acres fire burns in the distance. July 3, 2026.*

“I wouldn’t say we’re turning the corner yet, but we are starting to see moderation in some of that fire weather,” he said. “And we’re also starting to get some resources in. So that’s been very helpful for us as far as looking at where the fire is and where we have potential to go with that fire.”

Officials say they are concerned that afternoon thunderstorms could create new fires because they will likely be “dry” thunderstorms.

Eric Clark, a Colorado City resident with a home near the fire, went to survey the damage Saturday. He says he feels blessed that his home is still standing.

“The things you take are the things you can’t replace. So I got all that out and have just been experiencing quite an emotional rollercoaster,” he said. “Pray for the firefighters, and I’m just absolutely joyful at what I am looking at now.”

Colorado City residents Eric Clark and Jack the dog sit in their car parked along I-25 on July 4, 2026. Clark came to see the state the Aspen Acres fire, which forced him from his home; he was relieved to see the city still standing.

At a donation and distribution center for evacuees in Pueblo, volunteers helped people celebrate the 4th of July, which included music and a waterslide. The donation and distribution center is run by United Way and Grassroots Community. The Red Cross also runs a shelter there.

Johnathan Overton, a Pueblo resident and military veteran, helped set up the celebration. He said about 100 volunteers are working to help people with supplies and other necessities.

“If we come together, we can break bread together, and maybe for a moment it won’t seem like our world is on fire,” he said. “And if we can sit down and laugh together and have a meal, then maybe our losses aren’t as significant as we imagined they were.”

*Volunteers work in a donation center set up in Pueblo by the community and the United Way of Southern Colorado for evacuees from the Aspen Acres fire. July 4, 2026.*

Malinda Bryan, of Fountain, has property on the border of Pueblo. She was volunteering at the center helping feed people.

“I think the least we can do is feed some kids, get them on a slide, feed some adults, bring a sense of normalcy and community,” she said. “Though I’m not from this community, I think I am part of a Colorado community, and I just wanted to help people.”

Sam Vigil is a firefighter with the Pueblo Rural Fire Protection district. He has been working on fighting structure fires in Beulah.

“It’s a big responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” he said. “It is more impactful for me because these are places that I have been to …. It’s really nice to see how everyone is kind of contributing in helping out all these people who have lost their homes.”

A disaster assistance center at the Pueblo Academy of Arts is closed today and tomorrow, Sunday, July 5.