COLORADO CITY, Colo. — The Aspen Acres Fire tore through the night with no signs of slowing, ballooning to 66,895 acres by Friday morning with zero containment as flames pushed into Colorado City and forced emergency crews into a desperate overnight battle to protect homes.
The fire made aggressive runs on both its northern and southern flanks through the night. On the south end, flames crossed Bondurant Road and made a dramatic push up Table Mountain before flanking southeast directly into Colorado City — a move that caught many off guard given the fire’s pace had already alarmed officials during Thursday’s daytime hours.
Structure protection crews raced ahead of the advancing fire, preparing home sites as firefighters along Siloam Road deployed specialized tactics to redirect flames around buildings as the fire crossed the road in the early morning hours. Officials warn that official fire perimeter maps may still be lagging behind actual fire movement due to the rapid pace of overnight growth.
Law enforcement went door-to-door conducting mandatory evacuation enforcement across the fire’s southern end — focusing heavily on areas near Rye, the western portions of Colorado City, and Beckwith Reservoir. These zones sit closest to the active fire line, raising the urgency of compliance as the fire showed no willingness to slow.
The situation is expected to get worse before it gets better. Forecasters are warning that a cold front approaching late Friday will trigger a pre-frontal trough and dryline, sending wind speeds surging. The most dangerous window is expected between 6 p.m. and midnight — a stretch that could prove more volatile than earlier afternoon hours.
Hundreds of firefighters, first responders, and support personnel remain deployed across the fire zone, working through extreme conditions to slow the spread and keep communities safe.
Residents in affected areas are urged to follow all evacuation orders immediately and monitor official emergency channels for updates.
