Updated at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026
The communities of Rye, Beulah and San Isabel in Custer and Pueblo counties have all been evacuated due to the encroaching Aspen Acres fire. The small areas have a combined population of about 4,000.
The fire exploded from an original estimate of 362 acres Monday morning to nearly 23,000 acres, fueled by strong winds and high heat.
Read more of the most recent information on the Aspen Acres fire.
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Two fires are burning in Southern Colorado in addition to the fires on the Western Slope in which three firefighters were killed and others injured.
Residents of other locations may also see and smell smoke as a result of these fires. The state health department has issued a health advisory due to the smoke for Pueblo, eastern Custer, Crowley, eastern El Paso and Lincoln counties.
A red flag warning blankets much of the region, which means conditions are right for the start and rapid spread of wildfire.
Stage 2 fire restrictions are now in place for El Paso, Custer and Pueblo counties, along with all BLM public lands managed by the Royal Gorge and San Luis Valley field offices. Open flames including campfires and charcoal grills, fireworks and smoking outside are banned. Gas grills, chainsaws and other potentially spark producing devices must have emergency shut off switches and other safety features, and can be operated only in areas where flammable materials have been removed.
Aspen Acres fire
Here is the most recent information on this fire.
Beulah, Rye, and San Isabel are under evacuation notices as the Aspen Acres fire grows along the border of Custer and Pueblo counties. Pueblo County has also issued an alert for 3 R Road, Crow Cutoff, Waterbarrel Road and Burnt Mill to I-25. Agencies managing the incident continue to expand the evacuation area as the fire grows.
This afternoon, Custer County evacuated all homes on the east side of Highway 165 from Bishop Castle south to the Pueblo County line, per the Custer County Sheriff’s Office. The agency says homes on the west side of the highway need to be ready to go at any minute as they expect even more significant growth this afternoon. Roads are closed in Colorado City from Highway 165 to Blanco Street. Highway 78 at Waterbarrel Road is also closed.
Gov. Jared Polis has verbally declared the incident a disaster emergency. The declaration directs the Department of Public Safety to issue incident support, including engine and hand crews and aerial resources.
As of 5:39 p.m., the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office says the fire is estimated at 23,000 acres. Wind gusts around 100 miles per hour are keeping air support away.
Highway 165 is closed from the Pueblo County line to the Highway 96 Mackenzie Junction, according to the Custer County Sheriff’s office. Beulah fire officials say Highway 78 is closed at Mountain Shadows Mobile Estates for westbound traffic.
There are evacuation centers set up in Pueblo County at 1650 Cooper Place and at Wetmore Community Center. The Pueblo Sheriff's office says household pets are allowed. There's an evacuation site for large animals at the Colorado State Fairgrounds, using entrance 7.
Wind speeds and weather conditions are extreme, contributing to the spread of the fire.
“We had aircraft en route but they may have to cancel due to wind,” said the Custer County Sheriff's Office. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Incident command has been turned over to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, per the Custer County Sheriff's Office. The afternoon’s emergency declaration designates the incident to a Type 3 incident management team. That means the fire is complex enough to be supported and directed at the state level. Any incident more severe triggers a federal response.
No injuries or loss of life from the fires have been reported.
11 fire
A fire in Fremont County has grown to over 100 acres, up from an estimated 43 this morning. The so-called 11 fire is currently 0% contained. As of 6:40 p.m., the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said all evacuation orders and road closures related to this fire have been lifted. The agency said the size of the fire remains at 102 acres and fire crews will continue to work throughout the evening hours.
County Road 69 and County Road 11 (High Park Road) are closed northbound. High Park Road is also closed at mile marker 10 southbound.
Late last night, the American Red Cross of Colorado announced they had opened an evacuation shelter at the Pathfinder Park and Event Center in Florence. They say food, water, medical care, and mental health support are provided at the shelter along with volunteers to help with “immediate needs.”
The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has assumed command of fighting the fire.
