🔥 Trending Aspen Acres Fire: Latest Updates and Colorado Wildfire Information

The Aspen Acres Fire is a significant wildfire currently (as of July 2026) burning in southern Colorado, primarily affecting Custer and Pueblo counties ²³. It is considered one of the largest wildfires in Colorado's history, having grown to over 74,000 acres ⁶ and being the largest active wildfire in the state ².

Key Characteristics and Impact

Location and Affected Areas

The fire is situated approximately 15 miles northwest of Colorado City, impacting both Custer and Pueblo counties ². Evacuations have been ordered for several communities, including Rye, Beulah, Wetmore, and Colorado City ⁷. Some residents of Huerfano County who access their properties via Colorado City have also been affected by evacuation orders ⁷.

Scale and Destruction

The Aspen Acres Fire has caused extensive damage:

• Acreage: It has burned over 74,000 acres ⁶. Early reports indicated it had reached nearly 50,000 acres with 0% containment ⁴.
• Structures Destroyed: The fire has destroyed a significant number of structures, with reports varying slightly across sources but consistently indicating over 150 structures lost.
• One report states 55 homes in Custer County and over 100 structures in Pueblo County were destroyed ¹.
• Another confirms 180 structures destroyed, specifically 125 in Pueblo County and 55 in Custer County ².
• Other sources indicate over 155 structures ³ or at least 150 structures ⁸.
• Historical Significance: It has been identified as the 8th-largest fire in Colorado's history ², and at one point, the 11th-largest when it reached 50,000 acres ⁵.

Cause and Conditions

The fire is human-caused ³. Extreme fire behavior has been observed, contributing to its rapid spread and the need for evacuations and road closures ⁴. The region has been experiencing a high wildfire risk ⁸.