Aspen Acres Fire destroys hundreds of structures, forces mass evacuations in Colorado

Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero ordered mandatory evacuations as the Aspen Acres Fire ripped through Custer and Pueblo counties in southern Colorado. CBS News reported that the blaze destroyed 55 homes in Custer County and more than 100 structures in Pueblo County. A multi-agency response, including the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office and state fire crews, was deployed to combat the rapidly spreading flames.

Al Jazeera later indicated that the fire had grown to cover roughly 272 square kilometres. The expanded blaze had destroyed over 160 structures in total and forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents from Colorado City and surrounding communities. Firefighters continued to work the perimeter as the incident remained under active management.