Colorado wildfires: Aspen Acres fire leaps over containment line as hot, dry conditions continue
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Firefighters monitor the Aspen Acres Fire near Colorado City, Colo., as it begins to grow late on Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Michael Seamans/The Gazette via AP)<br>" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/newspack-coloradosun.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP26184092210492-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" /> Firefighters monitor the Aspen Acres Fire near Colorado City, Colo., as it begins to grow late on Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Michael Seamans/The Gazette via AP)
Read more: How to prepare for a wildfire in Colorado
Firefighters and aircraft stopped a spot fire west of Rye after it crossed the first of two defensive lines under construction Wednesday, one of several signs that hotter temperatures and stronger winds were increasing activity on the Aspen Acres fire.
The Aspen Acres fire grew to 99,820 acres and was 35% contained Thursday morning. Fire officials have said the fire has destroyed at least 850 structures in Pueblo and Custer counties.
More crews, heavy machinery and aircraft were deployed to the area Thursday as fire activity is expected to increase again during the afternoon.
“Conditions such as these are the reason why evacuation orders remain in effect for Rye and other communities on the west side of the fire,” Northern Rockies Incident Management Team No. 6 wrote in an update. “Huge progress has been made, but the wildfire is still uncontained with potential threat to life and property.”
Higher temperatures and stronger winds fueled fire activity on the fire’s southwestern side Wednesday.
Near San Isabel, firefighters are making progress building containment lines and protecting structures.
Clouds and rain showers are bringing moisture to the west side of the fire, and slightly lower temperatures are forecast Thursday. However, as winds and temperatures rise later in the day, fire officials expect fire activity to increase again on the western side of the blaze.
The Aspen Acres fire has already climbed to seventh on Colorado’s list of largest wildfires on record and officials say it is far from finished. At 99,820 acres, the blaze is nearing the size of the 2018 Spring Creek fire, the state’s sixth-largest wildfire at 108,045 acres.
“We anticipate this fire being here, present on the mountains in that steep country for quite a while,” Ben Wagner, an operations chief with the Northern Rockies team, said during a Wednesday briefing.
The National Interagency Fire Center map shows wildfires burning in Colorado.
Gold Mountain fire
Thunderstorms are strengthening and bringing more lightning to the Gold Mountain fire area as the week progresses, though officials say rainfall has been and will likely remain minimal despite cooler temperatures and rising humidity levels.
Most fire activity Wednesday was concentrated in the Middle and West Forks of the Cimarron and south toward Turret Ridge, officials with Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 said Thursday.
A handful of staffed engines will remain on the southern edge of the fire to patrol and mop up hot spots around structures along the U.S. 550 corridor.
As of Thursday, 929 personnel were assigned to the 37,734-acre fire, which is 11% contained.
Ferris fire
Firefighters have made significant progress on the northern portion of the Ferris fire burning near Dolores and officials are reporting 53% containment Thursday morning.
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Kevin Kropp’s son<br>" data-image-caption="First Fruits farmer Kacey Kropp stands within a peach orchard that will bear no fruit this season due to the freeze of April 17, at the First Fruits facility near Paonia Colo., June 11, 2026. One of Kropp’s many responsibilities at the farm is marketing fruit grown there. (William Woody, Special to The Colorado Sun)<br>" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/newspack-coloradosun.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/061126_NorthFork_FF_017-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" />
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