Aspen Acres Fire Reaches 102,004 Acres, 72% Contained as Wyoming Type 3 Team Takes Command

Description: The Aspen Acres Fire northwest of Rye, Colorado, is 102,004 acres and 72% contained as Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 7 takes command. Heavy rain raises concerns about flash flooding and debris flows...

The WY Type 3 IMT 7 has taken command of the fire. Daily updates will be posted every 2 days.

Aspen Acres Fire Update – August 15, 2026

Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 7

Incident Commanders Matt Weakland and Joe Milligan (trainee)

Fire Information: (719) 697-8353 Operational Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Size: 102,004 acres | Containment: 72% | Cause: Human | Start Date: June 29, 2026

Location: 10 Miles NW of Rye, CO | Total Personnel: 150

KEY MESSAGES

Today at 8:00am, the Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 7, led by Matt Weakland, took command of the fire.

To support a smooth transition, several members of the outgoing leadership are remaining with the incoming team.

With the increased number of thunderstorms, the biggest concern in the burned area is flooding. If thunderstorms repeatedly

move over the same areas, rain can quickly run off instead of soaking in. For the burn area heavy rain over a fresh burn scar

is particularly concerning because it can cause rapid runoff, debris flows, and flooding.

CURRENT SITUATION

Current efforts are centered on suppression repair, with heavy equipment and crews restoring dozer lines no longer needed.

Although recent storms have swept across the fire area, the footprint is so large that some sections received little to no

measurable rain. For public safety during ongoing equipment work and because portions of the fireline remain uncontained,

a closure area is still in place on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. All highways, however, remain open for the public.

WEATHER

Saturday is expected to be another very wet and stormy day. Moist air is being pushed up against the mountains and a small

weather system will provide some extra energy to help thunderstorms develop. Those two things working together could

produce stronger thunderstorms with heavier rain than the area has already been receiving. Due to yesterday’s flash flood

warning a new Flood Watch will likely be issued for today given the saturated fuels and repeated storm cycles.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS

A fire area closure remains in effect on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, San Carlos Ranger District, except for the

Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness, which is open and accessible only through the Bartlett and Greenhorn trailheads out of

Rye. Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../aspen-acres-fire-area-closure.

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire area. The TFR was reduced today and now covers a 7-

nautical-mile radius centered on the southwest corner of the fire. It is active during daytime hours only, from 7:00 a.m. to

9:00 p.m. This restriction applies to all aircraft, including drones and other unmanned aerial systems.

AIR QUALITY For daily air quality information, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Aspen Acres Fire Information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspenAcresFire2026

Email: 2026.aspenacres@firenet.gov

Phone: (719) 697-8353 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

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