With 1,719 firefighters on site, the Aspen Acres fire is now nearly 50% contained. This week some residents have been able to return home, but others remain evacuated.
The fire continued to grow on the southwest side on Thursday, producing large smoke plumes as firefighters face hot, dry, windy conditions, which are expected to continue Friday.
Keeping the fire from pushing south and threatening Rye and San Isabel is the main focus for crews. Rye, which has a population of around 200 residents, remains evacuated.
There were a few scattered showers overnight into Friday, but no major rain fell on the fire. Hot, dry weather is forecast through the weekend.
According to a Friday morning update from Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 6, windy gusts are expected to increase fire activity on the west side, with fire spotting possible, and lots of dry fuels to burn through.
“We’re trying to take care of the community and minimize the impacts to your properties and homes as much as we can out here,” said section chief Ben Wagner.
Firefighters continue burning off dead grass and fuels to prevent the fire from growing.
They remain focused on the Saint Charles Peak area, where fire activity decreased a bit on Thursday, with defensive lines preventing it from spreading. There’s lots of heavy firefighting equipment along Forest Roads 360 and 369 as they clear vegetation and trees.
Mingus Ranch and Round Top Mountain also remain priority areas, with firefighters removing fuels and building more fire lines, and searching for smoldering pockets to extinguish.
Beulah residents were allowed to return this week. Many returned to devastating damage.
Some Pueblo County residents have been allowed to return home, including south of Highway 96 and north of Highway 78. But most areas near the fire remain in pre-evacuation status. Evacuations remain in place for the south side of the fire, including Rye. Colorado City remains in pre-evacuation.
In Custer County, residents along Mackenzie Junction Highway 165 south to South Hardscrabble Road can return home Friday, but must get reentry cards. Wetmore and Greenwood areas remain in pre-evacuation.
A community meeting will be held Friday night at the Raymond Aguirre Community Center, 28 Co Rd 632, in Gardner, at 7 p.m.
Residents looking for help with cleanup on their properties can call the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 970-283-7325. Many organizations continue to offer recovery help, emergency shelters and other assistance for victims of the fire.
