The Aspen Acres Fire has burned more than 91,500 acres and destroyed at least 212 structures, with containment slipping from 14% to 12% after strong outflow winds pushed it northwest toward Wetmore and Greenwood. Thousands of residents remain under evacuation
For a third day, the Aspen Acres Fire kept changing shape across southern Colorado, and by Monday morning fire officials were counting the cost of overnight wind.
As of the most recent update from fire officials, the blaze has burned over 91,500 acres and destroyed at least 212 structures. The fire started on June 29 near the Aspen Acres campground in Custer County and has since grown into the seventh largest wildfire in Colorado’s history.
At 8 p.m. local time on Sunday, July 5, officials said the fire was 14% contained. On Facebook, they pointed to weather as the reason the situation shifted: a thunder cell passage created “strong outflow winds” that pushed the fire northwest toward the communities of Wetmore and Greenwood.
Those gusty conditions showed up in the containment numbers. The fire lost a small amount of containment overnight from Sunday to Monday, dropping from 14% contained to 12% contained, according to the latest figures released Monday morning.
Evacuation orders have expanded beyond the immediate burn area. Several areas in Fremont County are now under mandatory evacuation orders. and thousands of other residents have also had to evacuate. including the entire towns of Beulah. Rye. Wetmore. San Isabel and Colorado City. No civilian injuries or deaths have been reported.
While crews focus on the Aspen Acres Fire, it’s not the only wildfire burning across Colorado. As of Sunday afternoon, July 5, at least four other fires were active across the state.
In Dolores County, the Ferris Fire had burned nearly 48,000 acres and was 21% contained as of Monday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Dolores County officials have issued evacuation orders in that area.
The Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County has burned over 27,000 acres and was 3% contained as of Monday morning, the forest service said, with mandatory evacuations issued for some homes.
In Mesa County, the Snyder Fire was 95% contained as of Monday morning. The forest service reported it has burned over 30,000 acres.
Taken together, the numbers show how quickly the balance can shift when wind and storms collide with already burning terrain. In Aspen Acres. containment held at 14% by Sunday night. then slipped to 12% after the outflow winds pushed the fire toward Wetmore and Greenwood. Elsewhere in the state. different fires are moving at different speeds. but evacuation orders—whether already in place or expanding—remain a central part of the response.
For residents under orders in southern Colorado, the next hours are likely to be defined by weather and progress on containment—especially as the Aspen Acres Fire continues to burn thousands more acres than it had just a few days ago.
Aspen Acres Fire Colorado wildfires evacuation orders containment percentage Wetmore Greenwood Custer County Fremont County U.S. Forest Service Ferris Fire Gold Mountain Fire Snyder Fire
Wildfires are just getting worse every year. Why is it always the wind??
So it went from 14% to 12% contained overnight and that’s “just weather.” Cool, cool. My cousin said Wetmore is totally fine but then I read entire towns had to evacuate??
I don’t get why they keep mentioning “thunder cell passage” like that makes it less scary. If it’s the wind pushing it northwest, couldn’t they just do controlled burns that way? Also 212 structures is insane… are those from the whole county or just Aspen Acres campground?
Beulah, Rye, Wetmore, San Isabel, Colorado City… that list sounds like it’s basically wiping out half the map. I’m not saying it’s fake but these containment numbers always feel like guessing. No injuries is good at least, but 91,500 acres and only 12% contained like… where is it going to stop then?