8:15 p.m. Update: Locals in San Isabel stated that the fire was caused by high winds and downed powerlines.
5:30 p.m Update: Pueblo County Sheriff estimates fire has burned over 23,000 acres already as winds remain high moving into the evening.
The conditions were just too perfect for a massive fire on Monday, June 29, and what is now called the Aspen Acres has burned so fast that it has exited the Wet Mountains and is now burning the grasslands southeast of the little community of Beulah.Ā
While the fire that sparkedĀ on the morning of June 29, just north of Lake San Isabel, was human-caused with downed powerlines on trees, it started on the west side of the Wet Mountains and, in less than 10 hours, had burned over 12 miles and downhill 2,300 feet. Wildfires normally burn slowly downhill, but the mountain wave wind gusts pushed this fire at a pace that was impossible for firecrews or aircraft to slow.Ā
As was learned in the Mason Fire in 2005 and the Junkins Fire in 2016, which took place just north of the current Aspen Acres Fire and were also sparked during strong windstorms, they burned swiftly downhill.
The only positive thing that can be said is that these types of fires can remain fairly narrow as they burn, allowing crews to block their progress to the north or south. Right now, the town of Beulah is just north of the fire, and photos show crews in the open fields south of town establishing firelines along existing paved roads.
Aircrews were unable to help this morning due to the high winds and the fire’s speed. Gusts of wind were at least 60 miles an hour at the top of the Wet Mountains around 1 p.m. Winds are forecast to stay strong until sunset. High winds and dry conditions are expected to continue tomorrow.
The Aspen Acres fire is now burning into the Beulah Hill 2016 Fire, which is now mostly grass and shrubland. However, this type of dry environment can burn even faster depending on the wind conditions. This would push the fire towards I-25 and South Pueblo.
Jordan Hedberg
