PCSO: At least eight homes damaged in Wednesday’s flood

KXRM Colorado Springs
Sarah Ferguson

Updated

0

 
UPDATE: THURSDAY 7/30/2026 5:30 p.m.

(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said a preliminary assessment of damage in Beulah due to flooding in the Aspen Acres burn scar from Wednesday, July 29, showed at least eight homes were damaged.

  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
  • Aftermath of flooding in Beulah
    Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office

The majority of mud and debris caused by the Aspen Acres Fire burn scar has been cleared from the roads, and there are currently no road closures. Cleanup, however, does continue, and the public is asked to be aware and cautious when driving around heavy equipment and workers on the roads.

New mandatory evacs in Custer County due to flooding

UPDATE: THURSDAY 7/30/2026 3:11 p.m.

New mandatory evacuations are in place for neighbors near the Aspen Acres burn scar, but the order is not due to fire activity; rather, the area has been deemed unsafe due to several days of flooding.

According to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, residents of County Road 378, also known as Spruce Lane in Custer County north of Lake Isabel, are under mandatory evacuation orders “due to the area being unsafe following [Wednesday] night’s flood.”

No other residents are under evacuation orders, only those whose properties are on Spruce Lane/CR 378. On Wednesday evening, the Rye Fire Chief reported significant flood damage to three homes on CR 378.

ORIGINAL HEADLINE: Aspen Acres Fire: 101,921 acres with 66% containment

THURSDAY 7/30/2026 10:20 a.m.

The Aspen Acres Fire in Southern Colorado has burned 101,921 acres as of Thursday, July 30. It stands at 66% containment, according to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT3), and 699 personnel are battling the fire.

Aspen Acres Fire 2026
Photo of fireline that is being repaired. Courtesy: Aspen Acres Fire 2026 Facebook page.

There is a chance for rain and thunderstorms during the afternoon on Thursday, in addition to the potential for lightning and winds up to 40 mph. Rainfall may bring a risk of flash flooding, especially over burn scars, and community members should monitor emergency alerts and be prepared to act in case of flash flooding or changes in fire activity.

Aspen Acres Fire continues to burn one month later

Warmer and drier conditions are expected over the weekend.

Fire operations update

The following are details on firefighting operations:

  • Firefighters in the northwestern and eastern portion of the fire footprint continue the vital work of suppression repair, a process aimed at returning fire-impacted areas to pre-fire condition.

    • This includes heavy equipment operators reshaping dozer lines to prevent future erosion. Crews will continue conducting directional felling to help with sediment and debris movement.

    • Firefighters will remove unneeded suppression equipment such as pumps, water tanks, and hose lays across the fire area.

  • Fire behavior was significantly moderated on Wednesday, July 29, as widespread cloud cover and rainfall moved over the incident area.

  • Following recent flooding and debris flows near the communities of Rye and San Isabel, firefighters continue to strengthen the fireline while refining confinement and containment strategies along the uncontained edges of the fire.

  • The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team, composed of a specialized group of scientists and engineers, continues to analyze the fire’s footprint to identify potential post-fire hazards.

    • By evaluating burn severity and soil stability, these experts are taking the first critical steps toward protecting vital watersheds and natural resources from future threats.

Map of fire

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

Aspen Acres Fire map Thursday, July 30.
Aspen Acres Fire map Thursday, July 30.

Evacuations for Aspen Acres Fire

  • All evacuation zones have been reduced either to 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.

  • Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website

    • Information on the Aspen Acres Fire, with resources available for those impacted by the fire, can be found here.

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

  • The Recovery Assistance Center is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday

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.

    • For monetary donations, 100% of every dollar goes directly to wildfire relief and recovery efforts.

  • The United Way of Southern Colorado’s Wildfire Donation & Distribution Center has relocated to the Resource Assistance Center (RAC) at 2670 Delphinium Street in Pueblo.

  • The center will continue to accept donated relief supplies and distribute essential items to individuals and families affected by the Southern Colorado wildfires.

  • It is open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

  • A separate entrance and parking lot for the Donation & Distribution Center are located on the south side of the building. Visitors donating supplies or picking up available assistance should use this designated entrance and parking area.

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