Aspen Acres blaze grows, forcing evacuations and damage
PUBLISHED Jul 7, 2026, 8:28 AM ET
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PUEBLO, Colorado — The Aspen Acres fire expanded across Pueblo and Custer counties this week, burning tens of thousands of acres and prompting mandatory and pre-evacuation orders; incident maps showed roughly 93,634 acres on July 7 and about 96,031 acres by July 8, with officials reporting containment near 15 percent and large-scale shelter operations. This week, more than 1,500 personnel and then about 1,677 firefighters and support staff worked on suppression, while county authorities implemented curfews, held community briefings and coordinated re-entry rules; officials confirmed dozens of destroyed homes in Custer and Pueblo counties and organized Red Cross shelters and donation drives for displaced residents.
By Michael Grant | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Early July: Wildfire began expanding across southern Colorado, triggering evacuations and shelters.
- Monday evening: Reports indicated roughly 91,982 acres burned with shelter operations active in Pueblo.
- July 6: Pueblo County announced a mandatory curfew and adjusted evacuation and re-entry statuses.
- July 7: Incident maps recorded about 93,634 acres and 15% containment; 1,562 personnel assigned.
- July 8: Mapping updated to about 96,031 acres with approximately 1,677 personnel and revised home-loss figures released.
News Intelligence
- The Aspen Acres fire is a reminder of wildfire season's potential impact. If you live in a fire-prone area, it's time to review your evacuation plan and check your home insurance coverage. Make sure you're signed up for local emergency alerts.
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Local relief organizations, volunteers and firefighting units benefited from community donations, coordinated shelter operations and expanded emergency response capacity that enabled immediate assistance to evacuees.
Homeowners and residents across Pueblo and Custer counties suffered displacement, property destruction and emotional trauma as hundreds of residences were damaged or destroyed by the fire.
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Aspen Acres blaze grows, forcing evacuations and damage
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