The wildfire in Southern Colorado has expanded significantly, prompting new evacuations. Officials have reported that the fire has destroyed more than 180 structures, including an unknown number of homes. The blaze, which is currently the largest in the region, has burned 55,405 acres since it began on Monday. It is affecting Pueblo and Custer counties and has become the top firefighting priority in the country.
Officials stated during a Wednesday news conference that strong, sustained winds, combined with a lack of significant moisture in the forecast, have contributed to the fire’s further spread. Sady Stinchcomb, associated with Three Sisters Tavern & Grill in nearby Colorado City, expressed distress, saying, “It breaks my heart every day, just seeing it grow and grow, and there’s nothing you can do about it either.”
Evacuations have been ordered in areas including Buelah, Rye, and San Isabel, with further evacuations announced to the north and south of the fire. Southern Fremont County, north of the fire, is now under a pre-evacuation status. Residents like Derick Collins received evacuation alerts and quickly packed their belongings. Collins shared, “We got the 911 call at about 2:30. I packed what I could and got the expensive stuff, but you can’t load everything; it’s almost impossible.”
With the fire 0% contained, Collins focused on safety rather than potential damage. “It’s sad to see a lot of people, a lot of livelihoods out here, a lot of houses, a lot of businesses, ranches, farms,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do about it, except watch it go.”
Businesses like Three Sisters Tavern & Grill are playing a crucial role in supporting the affected community. The establishment has been providing food, water, and a gathering place for evacuees and first responders. Manager Jolee Ortiz described the situation as surreal, noting, “Like everywhere you look around, campers are loaded up, everybody’s got their ATVs on trailers, it’s just kind of like panic mode.”
Ortiz mentioned that since the Aspen Acres Fire ignited earlier in the week, community concern has grown. “We just walked around the parking lot, offering bottled water and keeping our bathrooms open all night, so people had access to facilities,” she explained. Collins, now among those watching the fire, remains worried about its potential advance toward more homes. “We get down here and see it coming around the ridge, so that’s not good,” he said.
Three Sisters Tavern & Grill has received over $1,000 in community donations, earmarked to assist first responders and those impacted by the fires. Investigators have determined the fire was human-caused but are still examining the circumstances. As the Aspen Acres Fire continues to burn uncontrolled, community support remains vital.