Firefighters and aircraft stopped a spot fire west of Rye after it crossed the first of two defensive lines under construction Wednesday, one of several signs that hotter temperatures and stronger winds were increasing activity on the Aspen Acres fire.
The Aspen Acres fire grew to 99,820 acres and was 35% contained Thursday morning. Fire officials have said the fire has destroyed at least 850 structures in Pueblo and Custer counties.
More crews, heavy machinery and aircraft were deployed to the area Thursday as fire activity is expected to increase again during the afternoon.
“Conditions such as these are the reason why evacuation orders remain in effect for Rye and other communities on the west side of the fire,” Northern Rockies Incident Management Team No. 6 wrote in an update. “Huge progress has been made, but the wildfire is still uncontained with potential threat to life and property.”
Higher temperatures and stronger winds fueled fire activity on the fire’s southwestern side Wednesday.
Near San Isabel, firefighters are making progress building containment lines and protecting structures.
Clouds and rain showers are bringing moisture to the west side of the fire, and slightly lower temperatures are forecast Thursday. However, as winds and temperatures rise later in the day, fire officials expect fire activity to increase again on the western side of the blaze.
The Aspen Acres fire has already climbed to seventh on Colorado’s list of largest wildfires on record and officials say it is far from finished. At 99,820 acres, the blaze is nearing the size of the 2018 Spring Creek fire, the state’s sixth-largest wildfire at 108,045 acres.
“We anticipate this fire being here, present on the mountains in that steep country for quite a while,” Ben Wagner, an operations chief with the Northern Rockies team, said during a Wednesday briefing.
The National Interagency Fire Center map shows wildfires burning in Colorado.
Gold Mountain fire
Thunderstorms are strengthening and bringing more lightning to the Gold Mountain fire area as the week progresses, though officials say rainfall has been and will likely remain minimal despite cooler temperatures and rising humidity levels.
Most fire activity Wednesday was concentrated in the Middle and West Forks of the Cimarron and south toward Turret Ridge, officials with Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 said Thursday.
A handful of staffed engines will remain on the southern edge of the fire to patrol and mop up hot spots around structures along the U.S. 550 corridor.
As of Thursday, 929 personnel were assigned to the 37,734-acre fire, which is 11% contained.
Ferris fire
Firefighters have made significant progress on the northern portion of the Ferris fire burning near Dolores and officials are reporting 53% containment Thursday morning.
Crews will continue to monitor the northern perimeter for any heat or new fire activity that could emerge from the steep, inaccessible canyon terrain.
Elsewhere on the fire, fire operations are transitioning from active suppression to repair. Crews will begin rehabilitating dozer lines, handlines and other areas that were affected by firefighting activities, and remove hoses, pumps and other equipment from the fire line as conditions allow.
About 1,105 personnel are assigned to the Ferris fire, as of Thursday. The fire is estimated at 64,869 acres.
Willow fire
The Willow fire grew by about 300 acres but also gained containment, according to a Thursday morning update from fire officials.
The fire burning near Leadville is now estimated at 6,861 acres and is 37% contained.
Crews are making progress with controlled burning operations and using natural features to their advantage. Rugged, inaccessible terrain near Bald Eagle Mountain west of Leadville continues to present challenges, but firefighters have improved containment along portions of the fire’s perimeter.
There is a 70% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon that could bring up to 1.25 inches of rain. Localized flash flooding is possible if rainfall rates exceed 0.30 inches per hour.
As of Thursday, 91 residents remained evacuated and 1,132 structures were threatened by the fire.
Investigators have determined the fire was human-caused after concluding no natural source could have ignited it. The investigation remains ongoing to determine the exact cause.
Fishhook and Green Ridge fires
There are two active wildfires burning in Routt County.
Increased moisture over the Fishhook fire on Wednesday helped reduce fire activity, officials said in a Thursday morning update.
The fire, burning north of Rabbit Ears Pass, is still 0% contained. More than 130 people are assigned to the 347-acre fire that is burning more than a mile from U.S. 40, which remains open, fire officials said.
Residents in Steamboat Springs should expect to see smoke over the next several days, officials warned.
The Green Ridge fire, which sparked within hours of the Fishhook fire, was estimated at 45 acres and 45% contained as of Wednesday, according to the Colorado Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Preliminary results show the fire was caused by a tractor bailing hay.
Elk fire
The Elk fire burning in the Uncompahgre Wilderness north of Lake City grew to nearly 2,000 acres, U.S. Forest officials said.
The lightning-caused fire prompted more evacuations in Hinsdale County Wednesday afternoon as the fire grew and remained 0% contained.
The fire is burning about nearly 3 miles west of Highway 149, which remains open as of Thursday morning. The fire is burning in rugged terrain that is very difficult for firefighters to safely fight on the ground. Crews are using roads and natural barriers to build firelines and protect values at risk.
This is a developing story that will be updated.