Aspen Acres Fire Grows to 86,983 Acres, Reaches 13% Containment as 800 Firefighters Strengthen Lines Near Rye and Lake Isabel

Description: The Aspen Acres Fire has grown to 86,983 acres with 13% containment as nearly 800 firefighters continue suppression efforts in Pueblo and Custer counties. Crews protected structures near Rye and Lake Isabel, while thunderstorms, flash flood risks, evacuations, and Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect.

Aspen Acres Fire Update

Sunday, July 5, 2026 – 8:00 a.m.

Alaska Complex Incident Management Team 1

Jake Livingston, Incident Commander

Size: 86,983 acres | Containment: 13%

Total Personnel: Approximately 800

Location: 10 Miles NW of Rye, CO in Custer and Pueblo Counties

Reported: June 29, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. 

Cause: Human, Under Investigation

Fire Information Phone: 719.697.8353 

Email: 2026.aspenacres@firenet.gov

Fire Update: Friday’s mild weather moderated fire behavior allowing firefighters to work direct on the fire’s perimeter in many places. Crews built handlines and dozer lines around the northeast corner of the fire where it crossed over Siloam Road. Firefighters mopped up around structures in the areas where the fire had already passed through. Friday night, a flare up occurred on Siloam Road impacting an outbuilding. Firefighters on scene knocked down the flareup and prevented the fire from spreading to other structures. On the eastern side of the fire, north of St. Charles River, dozer lines were improved and lengthened in the Goodpasture and Wales Canyon area. The 13% containment is south of Turtle Buttes, on both the north and south sides of the St. Charles River. A change in fuel type as the fire spread east earlier this week is what stopped the advance.

Further south, on the eastern side of the fire, dozer lines around Muddy Creek are continuing to be improved. Bondurant Road is being brushed and cleared to utilize it as a holding feature. Dozer lines are will be connected and improved along the fire’s perimeter in Colorado City.

Friday’s night shift reported the fire being calm and quiet on the southeast corner of the fire in Colorado City and along Colorado Highway 165. Multiple dozer lines are being built and improved by firefighters around Rye. West of Rye where the fire crossed Colorado 165, both day and night shifts have taken advantage of moderate fire behavior to halt the fire’s spread. Firefighters spent Friday day and night mopping up around Lake Isabel structures.

The night shift extinguished a small spot fire in the area of the lake. The fire continues to actively burn around Saint Charles Peak. Crews are working on structure protection and the construction of dozer lines along North Creek. Firefighters built hand line and are working direct on the fire’s northwest perimeter where possible in the rugged terrain of the San Isabel National Forest.

Weather: Sunday’s concern will be an increase in thunderstorms, which brings lightning and erratic outflow wind gusts. Rain from the passing storm cells may be beneficial but isolated heavy rain fall can cause flash floods and road damage in severely burned areas.

Fire Behavior: The increase in relative humidity has helped to moderate fire behavior. However, the live and dead vegetation is still extremely dry. Satellite thermal detection indicates many areas of heat remain along the fire’s perimeter.

Fire Restrictions & Closures: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Custer and Pueblo Counties, as well as on the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. There is an Aspen Acres Fire Area Closure for the San Carlos Ranger District. Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/alerts/aspen-acres-fire-area-closure

Evacuations: Evacuations and pre-evacuations are in place across Custer, Pueblo, Fremont, and Huerfano Counties. Please call the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 719-583-4640 for information about closures, evacuations, Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) information, and more for Pueblo and Custer Counties. Huerfano and Fremont County residents 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. 

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place above the fire area. Flying any aircraft within the TFR is prohibited. This includes the use of drones, or unmanned aerial systems.

Air Quality: An Air Resource Advisor is assigned to the incident and assessing where communities may be impacted by smoke. To get daily air quality information, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ 

The public and members of the media should monitor the following official websites: www.puebloemergency.info, www.facebook.com/AspenAcresFire2026, https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-aspen-acres-fire

Follow Pueblo County Sheriff's Office Facebook at www.facebook.com/PuebloSheriff and X: @PuebloCountySO https://x.com/PuebloCountySO

Follow Custer County Sheriff’s Office Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CCSOAdmin

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