Coloradans are feeling the effects of this year’s devastating wildfire season, with several large fires burning across the state and firefighters working around the clock to slow their spread. Hot temperatures, poor air quality and the persistent smell of smoke have been staples across the state over the last week, with little sign of improvement.
While the flames pose an immediate danger to nearby communities, their impact extends much farther. From historic landmarks to ways to help, here’s what you should know about the ongoing wildfire situation.
1.) The Aspen Acres Fire is now one of Colorado’s largest wildfires on record.
The Aspen Acres Fire has become one of the largest wildfires in our state’s history, burning through over 90,000 acres in southern Colorado. The area’s mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather have made it a logistical nightmare to contain the blaze.
Hundreds of firefighters, with support from aircraft dropping water, are working around the clock to protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure while building containment lines wherever they can. But even with those efforts, officials warn that fires of this size can remain active for weeks before cooler temperatures or significant rainfall give crews a better chance at gaining control.
As of late Monday afternoon, the fire is at about 12% containment. While that number is undeniably low, it’s much better than the 0% containment the fire was at on July 2.
2.) Smoke is impacting communities hundreds of miles away.
Despite being hundreds of miles away from the closest fire, Coloradans are feeling the effects of the burnings via terrible air quality.
On Monday, July 6, Denver had the worst air quality in the United States and the 10th worst in the entire world, with an Air Quality Index of 111, ranking well above cities like Dubai (105 AQI), Shanghai (84 AQI), Seoul (73 AQI) and Mumbai (66 AQI). Denver has dealt with unhealthy air for more than a week, with smoke expected to linger and little relief in sight in the coming days.
To stay healthy during this period of poor air quality, health officials recommend limiting strenuous outdoor activities, keeping windows and doors closed when possible and using an air purifier if available. If you do need to spend extended time outside, wearing a well-fitted mask such as an N95 can help reduce exposure to harmful smoke particles.
3.) Historic Colorado landmarks are being threatened.
The fires aren’t only putting homes and forests at risk—they’re also threatening pieces of Colorado history.
Perhaps the most prominent landmark in the path of the Aspen Acres Fire is Bishop Castle, the towering hand-built stone castle in the Wet Mountains that has become one of the state’s most recognizable roadside attractions. As of now, the castle is still standing, despite the fire coming just 200 yards away from the landmark.
Not every historic site has been as fortunate as Bishop Castle. The historic Horseshoe Lodge at Pueblo Mountain Park, which was built in 1930, and has become a beloved retreat destination for Coloradans since, was destroyed after flames swept through the property last weekend.
It’s a sobering reminder that wildfires don’t just reshape landscapes. They can also erase irreplaceable pieces of Colorado’s history.
4.) Firefighters from across the country are pitching in.
Colorado’s firefighting resources are strong, but fires of this size require help from across the country.
Over the weekend, additional firefighters, aircraft and specialized crews were sent to our state to assist with efforts to quell the fires. California is leading the charge, sending 15 firetrucks and accompanying crews, totaling 53 total personnel. Other states, such as Texas and Kansas, have confirmed that they’ve sent crews to fight the Aspen Acres fire too.
Over the next two weeks, those crews will help Colorado firefighters with clearing vegetation, building fire lines and defending homes that may be in the fire’s path. And yes, they’ll also be fighting the fire head-on.
Three firefighters, Emily Barker of Michigan, Nick Hutcherson of Arizona and Sydney Watson of Alabama, made the ultimate sacrifice, passing away while fighting the Snyder Fire near the border with Utah. Two additional firefighters were injured in the same fire.
5.) There are ample ways to help those affected.
With at least 193,000 acres of land charred and 263 homes burned in the last week in Colorado, many around our state are in need of help. Thankfully, there are many ways to chip in and make a difference.
If you’re looking to help, consider donating to organizations like the American Red Cross, which has boots on the ground near the Aspen Acres Fire and is providing shelter to those in need. Local community foundations, such as United Way of Southern Colorado, Disaster Assistance Center of Pueblo and Pikes Peak Region Humane Society, are supporting people and pets displaced by the fires.
Even if you’re unable to give financially, sharing evacuation information, checking in on neighbors, or donating unwanted clothes, medical supplies, non-perishable food and even blood are all great ways to make a difference within the community.
Recovery efforts will continue long after the smoke clears. Every contribution, big or small, helps Coloradans rebuild.
While the coming days depend heavily on weather conditions, there are still plenty of ways to stay informed, support those affected and keep Colorado safe. The road to recovery may be long, but the resilience of Coloradans has always been one of our state’s greatest strengths.
To stay informed, residents are able to track all of the ongoing fires and their containment levels across the state on inciweb.wildfire.gov/state/colorado. Additionally, those in affected areas can use the Colorado Wildfire Information Resource Center to keep up with emergency notifications such as evacuation notices, along with accessing vital information for wildfire preparedness.
Do you have a listicle in mind? Any ideas can be sent to ryland.c.scholes@gmail.com. And don’t forget to check out our events calendar on our website to see what else is happening in our area.
See you next Tuesday with another Bucket Listicle.
Ryland Scholes
Production Manager & Senior Reporter/ Bucket List Community News
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