Aspen Acres Fire Swallows 23,000 Acres, Forces Evacuations in Pueblo and Custer Counties

23,000 acres. That is the size of the Aspen Acres Fire as of Monday afternoon. It has swallowed land in both Pueblo and Custer counties. It has taken multiple homes. It has forced over 4,000 people out of their houses.

The fire started around 5:30 a.m. near the Aspen Acres Campground. It began as two separate blazes. They merged into one massive engine of destruction.

Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero held a press conference Monday evening to lay out the damage. He said high winds are the enemy here. Gusts in Rye hit close to 100 mph. Those winds kept air support grounded for hours. Planes need to fly lower to drop water or retardant. High winds make that impossible.

A state survey plane will fly over the fire later Monday. It will map the perimeter and find hotspots. But don’t expect air drops until Tuesday morning. The survey planes can handle the wind. The heavier drop planes cannot.

Lucero noted that conditions could worsen as the fire moves east. If it does, the Interstate may need to shut down. That would cut a major artery for locals trying to leave or bring in supplies.

Evacuation orders are sweeping through the region. Mandatory evacuations cover the Town of Beulah. They cover the Town of Rye. They cover Burnt Mill Road east to Interstate 25.

In Custer County, the area south of Highway 96 down to Lake Isabel is under mandatory evacuation. That includes the zone from Lake Isabel to Rye, a two-mile evacuation stretch from San Isabel. It starts from Lazy Acres.

Road closures are compounding the chaos. Colorado City is locked down from Highway 165 to Blanco Street. Highway 78 is closed at Waterbarrel Road. Deputies are warning drivers to stay off the roads near the fire. They need room for incoming support assets. Ambulances, fire trucks, and heavy machinery need clear paths.

The human cost is mounting. Multiple homes are lost. Lucero wouldn’t give an exact number. He said "possibly four." The count could rise. There are no injuries reported so far. That is a relief, but it is not a guarantee.

About 2,732 households are in the crosshairs. That is over 4,000 people. They are watching the sky. They are packing bags. They are waiting to see if the weather shifts.

The fire is moving fast. The wind is pushing it east. The terrain is rough. The infrastructure is fragile.

Sheriff Lucero asked for patience. He asked for compliance. But the reality on the ground is stark. The fire is 23,000 acres. It is growing. And the air support is stuck on the ground until Tuesday.

Neighbors in Rye and Beulah are checking their roofs. They are watching the news feeds. They are wondering if the Interstate will close before they can get out.

The short version: The fire is big. The wind is strong. The homes are gone. The people are moving.

Wait for the air drops. Wait for the breeze to die down. Wait to see if the fire jumps the highway.

It is June 29. The heat is still on. The smoke is still rising. The evacuation orders are still mandatory.

Do not ignore them.