Aspen Acres Fire Remains 72% Contained at 102,004 Acres as Flash Flood, Debris Flow Risk Continues

Description: The Aspen Acres Fire near Rye, Colorado, remains 102,004 acres and 72% contained as crews continue suppression repairs and thunderstorms raise the risk of flash flooding and debris flows...

Aspen Acres Fire Update – August 17, 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: 112

KEY MESSAGES

The Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 7 continues repairing areas affected by firefighting operations, with public safety as the top priority. The team urges the public to follow all Forest Service closures and stay out of active work areas to avoid hazards and protect both firefighters and community members.

Suppression repair areas remain active work zones where heavy equipment, unstable ground, and shifting debris can create dangerous conditions without warning. Staying clear of crews, equipment, and closed sections of the forest helps protect you and the firefighters working to restore the landscape, ensuring everyone can continue this work safely.

With more thunderstorms moving through, flooding remains the biggest concern in the burned area. Because the ground is burned, it cannot absorb rain as quickly, so heavy rain can run off rapidly. If storms repeatedly pass over the same area, this can quickly lead to flash flooding and debris flows, especially on a fresh burn scar.

CURRENT SITUATION

Crews are focused on repairing and restoring dozer lines no longer needed. While recent storms brought rain to parts of the fire area, some locations received little to no rain due to the fire’s large size. The Pike-San Isabel National Forest closure remains in place due to ongoing equipment work and areas of uncontained fire line. All highways, however, remain open to the public.

WEATHER

The weather pattern that developed over the weekend will continue today, bringing more isolated monsoon driven rain across the fire area that can produce flash flooding. Thunderstorms may form throughout the day, producing erratic winds of 10–20 mph and periods of heavy rainfall. Conditions remain unstable, while stronger and potentially dangerous storms are expected.

Outflow winds and smoke may influence fire behavior, and residual smoke could be visible along the southwestern side of the fire today. As temperatures rise later this week, be aware that any smoke you see may be coming from interior pockets within the fire.

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/r02/psicc/alerts/aspen-acres-fire-area-closure

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.)

Follow SECO News on Facebook.
Subscribe to the SECO News YouTube Channel.

Click to Zoom

Press releases Sponsor