Aspen Acres Fire Resources

Information on how to help or get help

Grant Authorization for Aspen Acres Fire Burning in Custer and Pueblo Counties

Governor Polis announced that Colorado has been authorized for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Aspen Acres Fire burning in Custer and Pueblo Counties. The fire was first reported the morning of Monday, June 29, and has since grown rapidly to over 35,000 acres as of 7/1/26. The Governor declared it an emergency just hours after the blaze started, due to its immediate rapid growth.

Since the fire began, the U.S. Forest Service and the State have deployed 22 engines and handcrews, an incident management team and 180 personnel. In addition, the emerging fire was identified yesterday morning as the top priority in the Rocky Mountain Region and multiple fixed and rotor wing aviation resources were assigned until wind and turbulence prohibited safe aircraft use. A National Complex Incident Management Team was ordered to manage the fire.. These teams manage large wildfires, providing command and coordination.

Pueblo and Custer Counties are under Stage 2 fire restrictions, prohibiting the sale and use of any fireworks. Governor Polis is urging all Coloradans to follow local fire restrictions and help prevent any human-caused fires.

On Monday evening, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Aspen Acres Fire. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

HOW TO HELP:

• Pueblo County: At this time, the County says it does not need any more donations, as the community really rallied around them, and graciously donated items desperately needed. That could change, however. Check their Facebook for the most up to date information. 
• The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region: Supports Pueblo and El Paso County, really needs donations to house and feed all of the animals they were inundated with. DONATE HERE. You can also sign up as a volunteer for the Community Animal Response Team (CART) HERE. The CART team are trained to perform companion animal and livestock sheltering operations during emergency situations and disasters, including animal care and handling, health, documenting animal intake, and reuniting animals with their owners.
• The American Red Cross: is assisting those displaced by the Aspen Acres Fire, and you can find more information on how to help HERE.
• The United Way of Southern Colorado is taking monetary and physical item donations. You can find them at 510 W. 3rd Street, Pueblo CO M-F 10a-2p. Items needed include:
  Bottled water

  Commercially packaged, shelf-stable food (no expired items or dented cans)

  Diapers, commercial shelf-stable baby formula, and new baby bottles

  Dog and cat food
  Large Animal Donations

  Colorado State Fairgrounds – Gate 7 (Small Ave. Entrance)
  Currently accepting:

  Grass hay

  All-flock feed for chickens, ducks, and turkeys

TO GET HELP:

• Call 211: 211 can assist you with information on where to go and what to do.
• Pueblo County Recreation Center: Serving as the primary evacuation shelter, located at 1650 Cooper Place, Pueblo, CO (small household pets are accepted).
• Disaster Assistance Center: Located at the Pueblo Academy of Arts (formerly Pitts Middle School) at 29 Lehigh, Pueblo. City officials said the center is a one-stop resource center set up to assist survivors with the recovery process. Among the services that will be available at the center includes the victims assistance, United Way of Southern Colorado, food, Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, behavioral health, the Department of Human Services, Red Cross, agriculture support and private insurance.
• Large Animals & Livestock: A shelter is set up at the Colorado State Fairgrounds (enter via Gate 7 off Small Avenue, Pueblo.
• The Wetmore Community Center has closed, but remains on stand by to reopen should it need to.
• ENT Federal Credit Union (soon to become Wings Credit Union) is ready to assist Ent members who live, work or own businesses in areas impacted by the Aspen Acres fire. ENT could defer your loan payment without penalty, or use its our Skip-A-Pay program if your loan qualifies.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE:
Care and Share of Southern Colorado
Pueblo Cooperative Care Center
Transitional Housing through Airbnb
So Co Giving Hearts

STAY INFORMED:

Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office

Custer County Sheriff’s Office

The Pueblo YMCA

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region

American Red Cross of Colorado

Insurance Information

• If you have been displaced by the fires, contact your insurance agent or company immediately to let them know where you are staying. Not only can they help you with coverage or claims questions, they can help find lodging options as many people in the area will be temporarily displaced.
• To find the contact information of your homeowners or auto insurance company go to Insurance Company Claims Filing Telephone Numbers
• Save all receipts for living expenses if you’ve been evacuated or displaced by the fire, as homeowners or renters in these situations typically have insurance coverage for additional living expenses (ALE) which provides them with an amount of out-of-pocket money while evacuated. Check with your insurance company or agent about your coverage. If you are unable to live in your house or apartment because of the fire, most policies will also reimburse you the difference between your additional living expenses and your normal living expenses. Again, check with your insurance company or agent about your coverage.
• Start the claim process as soon as you can. For your home, any out buildings and vehicles, you’ll want to contact your insurance company or agent right away to begin the claim process. However, these fires were devastating and many people have been significantly impacted, so the insurance process will take time.
• If possible, and only if it is safe to do so, try to document any damage by taking photos.
• If your home survived the fires, it may still have experienced damage from smoke or water, or to the electrical systems or other damage due to the extreme heat. As with direct fire damage, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to start the claims process.
• If you have questions about insurance, contact the Division of Insurance. The Division’s Consumer Services Team will staff the phones and answer emails from 8 a.m – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. While claims need to be filed with the insurance companies, the Division can assist consumers with questions about insurance and the claims process. Contact the Consumer Service Team at 800-930-3745 (outside of the Denver metro area) / DORA_Insurance@state.co.us  or visit the website, doi.colorado.gov (click on “File a Complaint”).
• Renters should contact their renters’ insurance.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also has programs designed to assist disaster survivors.