Aspen Acres wildfire swells to about 96,000 acres after overnight spread

Colorado fire officials said on Tuesday, July 8, that the Aspen Acres wildfire had grown to 96,031 acres after another night of spread in southern Colorado. The fire, burning in Pueblo and Custer counties since June 29, was 15% contained as of the morning update, according to fire officials cited by local news outlets. Elsewhere in the state, new evacuation and pre-evacuation orders were issued around the Ferris fire in the southwest, while Boulder County kept elevated fire restrictions in place. A weather shift on Wednesday, July 9, was expected to move thicker smoke out of northern Colorado, CBS Colorado reported. ### How much did the Aspen Acres fire grow overnight? The Aspen Acres fire added just over 2,100 acres overnight and reached 96,031 acres by the morning of July 8, according to fire officials quoted by The Pueblo Chieftain and Indianapolis Star. The fire was listed at 15% containment and remained the largest active wildfire in Colorado. (chieftain.com) The Denver Post reported the blaze had burned roughly 3,000 additional acres by Tuesday as crews worked in southern Colorado. The fire has damaged homes and prompted emergency declarations in affected counties, according to local reporting. ### Where is the fire burning and who is affected? Pueblo and Custer counties remained at the center of the Aspen Acres fire on July 8, with fire activity pushing across a broad area of southern Colorado, according to official updates carried by local outlets. (chieftain.com) Fremont County commissioners this week extended an emergency declaration tied to the fire through July 29 to keep additional support and resources available. (denverpost.com) Colorado fire coverage from The Denver Post said four active wildfires in the state had together burned nearly 190,000 acres by Tuesday. That total included Aspen Acres, the Ferris fire, the Gold Mountain fire and the Willow fire. ### What changed around the Ferris fire? Dolores County residents near the Ferris fire were placed under expanded evacuation and pre-evacuation notices late Tuesday and into Wednesday, according to Colorado Public Radio and other local reports. (chieftain.com) CPR reported rural residents in the Four Corners area were forced to leave late Tuesday night as the fire threatened additional ground. (denverpost.com) Earlier local reporting said the Ferris fire had already burned more than 47,000 acres and was among the largest fires in the southwestern United States. Adjacent areas remained under evacuation or pre-evacuation notices as fire weather concerns continued. ### Why are Boulder County restrictions part of this story? (cpr.org) Boulder County said Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect for the mountain area of unincorporated western Boulder County, while Stage 1 restrictions remain in effect for the plains area in the east. The county said the restrictions took effect June 30 after hot, dry conditions, drought and elevated fire danger. (kjct8.com) The county’s restrictions page says open burning is not allowed anywhere in unincorporated Boulder County during certain National Weather Service alerts, including red flag warnings and high-wind events. Local officials have tied the tighter restrictions to wildfire danger and limited firefighting resources statewide. ### Is smoke expected to improve in northern Colorado? (bouldercounty.gov) CBS Colorado reported on Wednesday that a wind shift should help push thicker wildfire smoke out of northern Colorado. The station said higher moisture, even without widespread rain, could also help limit rapid fire growth and improve conditions for firefighting crews. Colorado’s smoke outlook also pointed to changing transport winds, with forecasters saying a shift from southwesterly to more westerly flow should mean less smoke in northern parts of the state and gradual improvement in some central areas. (bouldercounty.gov) At the same time, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment continued smoke advisories for counties closer to active fires. (cbsnews.com) ### What should residents watch next? July 9 forecasts from Colorado air-quality and smoke-monitoring agencies were continuing to update as winds changed and fire activity evolved. Boulder County’s fire-restriction page remained active, and local evacuation notices around the Ferris fire were still subject to change as crews assessed conditions. (bouldercounty.gov) (colosmokeoutlook.blogspot.com)