Aspen Acres Fire Prompts Evacuations as Communities Rally Together

The wildfire in Southern Colorado has caused significant destruction, prompting new evacuations. It began on Monday and has since burned 55,405 acres, destroying over 180 structures, including unknown numbers of homes.

Authorities have declared it the largest active blaze in the region, affecting Pueblo and Custer counties. On Wednesday, officials identified it as the nation’s top firefighting priority. Strong winds and a lack of rain forecast have exacerbated the situation, leading to further fire growth on Thursday.

“It breaks my heart every day, just seeing it grow,” said Sady Stinchcomb of Three Sisters Tavern & Grill in nearby Colorado City.

Among the evacuated areas are Buelah, Rye, and San Isabel. Evacuation efforts expanded north and south on Wednesday, now including Southern Fremont County as a pre-evacuation area. Residents like Derick Collins were compelled to evacuate, expressing concern.

“We got the 911 call at about 2:30,” Collins said. “I packed what I could and got the expensive stuff, but it’s almost impossible to get everything out.”

Collins emphasized the focus on safety, hoping for minimal additional damage from a fire still 0% contained.

“It’s sad to see a lot of livelihoods out here affected,” he added.

Three Sisters Tavern & Grill, a local business, has actively supported the community during this crisis, offering food, water, and a gathering space for evacuees and first responders. Manager Jolee Ortiz described the atmosphere as “surreal,” noting the influx of evacuees in panic mode.

“We just walked around with bottled water, kept our bathrooms open all night,” Ortiz said.

The community has responded with donations totaling over $1,000, intended to help first responders and affected individuals. Investigators have attributed the Aspen Acres Fire to human activity and are determining the specific causes.