July 16th 2026
Crews continue work on Aspen Acres Fire.
The Aspen Acres Fire stands at 99,077 acres as of last night with 36% containment.
There are now about 1,767 fire personnel working on the fire. Crews have been working
to extinguish hot spots in the mingus ranch area, and to continue constructing primary
and secondary fireline in the saint charles peak area. Aerial firefighting resources are
working in conjunction with crews on the ground to keep the west side of the fire in
check, according to fire officials. Fire activity is still high near north muddy creek, and
the fire there remains a serious threat to the community of Rye, just 2 miles to the
southeast. Firefighters have been aggressively constructing defensive lines between the
fire and Rye. Work is not yet complete, fire officials said, and it is not yet safe for
residents to return home. If winds align with drainage's, it could rapidly send the fire
towards Rye, according to officials. Smoldering hot spots on the northeast side remain a
lurking threat with the potential to ignite highly flammable juniper trees near a populated
area, according to officials. Fire officials are asking residents to watch out for firefighters
in the area.
Lawsuit against San Isabel Electric Association filed yesterday.
A lawsuit against San Isabel Electric Association was filed yesterday in Pueblo County
Court that alleges that powerlines and utility equipment owned by San Isabel Electric was
"a substantial factor in the cause, origin, and continuation of the highly destructive Aspen
Acres Fire". The lawsuit's statement of facts alleges that a witness "reported seeing a
tree leaning on a power line" on the morning of June 29th, while a separate witness
"videotaped a timber and grass fire burning under and near a powerlines in the vicinity of
Highway 165 and Custer Drive in the Aspen Acres Neighborhood". The lawsuit also
alleges that people living in the aspen acres area witnessed, fought, and extinguished fires
related to powerlines in the area in the days leading up to June 29th. The lawsuit accuses
San Isabel Electric of negligence and failing to "properly inspect, maintain, and repair the
powerlines and equipment and failing to properly cut, trim and/or prune vegetation near
their lines". The plaintiffs are seeking damages including evacuation expenses, lost
wages, damage to property and soil, as well as emotional damages.
Alamosa man taken into custody following high speed pursuit.
Daniel Mascarenas, 43, of Alamosa, was taking into custody yesterday after the Alamosa
Regional Swat team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 400 block of Dunham
Street. Mascarenas was arrested following a high-speed vehicle pursuit and a brief
standoff at a home in Monte Vista. The incident began around 11:20am Tuesday when
sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unwanted person in the 4500 block of
county road 3 south. The caller identified Mascarenas and told dispatchers he was at the
home in a White Cadillac Escalade. He fled when police arrived. Information was
received yesterday placing Mascarenas in the home on Dunham Street. Mascarenas is
facing charges including stalking, vehicular eluding, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace
officer, second-degree criminal trespass, drug possession and traffic infractions.
CPW announces voluntary Rio Grande River fishing closures.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has imposed a voluntary afternoon fishing closure on two
stretches of the Rio Grande River, citing high water temperatures and low flow. The
impacted areas include the section of the river from The Rio Grande Reservoir Dam to
The Rio Grande Canal and the stretch from Big Meadows Reservoir dam to the
confluence of the main stem of the river. Closures are in place from noon to midnight
each day until further notice, according to CPW.
July 15th 2026
Crews continue work on Aspen Acres Fire.
The Aspen Acres Fire has burned just over 99,000 acres with 36% containment as of last
night. There are currently 1,900 fire fighters working on the fire and the northern rockies
team 6 will take over control of the fire this morning. All evacuation orders have been
lifted for the Beulah area, meaning that re-entry cards are no longer needed there. As the
fire burns into the mountains and to the west, Huerfano County has now placed all pre-
evacuation areas now on mandatory evacuation. All areas within The US Forest Service
areas to the east of the area where William Creek crosses into the National Forest are now
on evacuation status. Evacuation orders are also now in place "following Williams Creek
North to where Williams Creek intersects with County road 630 and following County
road 630 generally north to where County road 630 intersects with County road 636 and
continuing to follow County road 630 west to where it intersects with County road 634,
the Gardner road, then running due north to the county line". The Custer County Sheriff
yesterday reopened Colorado 96 from Pueblo to Westcliffe and residents of Wetmore and
Greenwood are now on pre-evacuation status and can return home.
New report shows CO families struggling to afford essentials.
A new report released by The Colorado Children's campaign says that Colorado families
are struggling to afford essentials like food, housing, health care and child care. The
campaign's annual "kids count report" says that nearly 30% of Colorado households with
children and nearly 70% of single mother experience financial hardship. Colorado's
child poverty rate, which is equal to $31,200 in annual income for a family of four, has
decreased from about 15% in 2014 to 11% in 2024. However, in certain parts of the
state, like The San Luis Valley, more than one-third of children still live in poverty and
nearly 75% of families with children experience financial hardship. The average
Colorado family of four with one infant and one preschooler needs about $94,500 per
year to meet basic needs, according to the report.
Custer County SNR rescued injured hiker Sunday.
Custer County Search and Rescue on Sunday rescued a hiker with a knee injury just
below broken hand pass. According to search and rescue officials, Chaffee County
Search and Rescue and flight for life Colorado assisted. 15 ground team members
headed to the location on foot. While the plan was for a day trip, the hiker was prepared
for the emergency with warm clothing, food, water, a phone, a battery bank, headlamp,
helmet, an emergency bivy and a garmin inreach. Officials say all of the equipment was
critical for the duration of the rescue, which amounted to nearly 48 hours in the
backcounty. Following an all-night trek, all team members and the hiker were out of the
field by 6am on Monday.
Ballot measure to remove 12th DA term limits added to Nov Ballot.
San Luis Valley County Commissioners have overwhelmingly voted to add a ballot
measure to the November ballot to ask voters if they want to remove term limits on the
office of district attorney in the 12th Judicial District. If the measure is successful in
November, term limits for the DA's position in the San Luis Valley will be removed,
effective immediately, and implemented with the next general election in 2028.
Currently, with term limits, Current DA Anne Kelly could be re-elected in 2028, but that
would be the last time she could run for district attorney in the 12th Judicial District.
City of Alamosa announces work to complete reconstruction project.
The City of Alamosa has announced that beginning on Monday, July 20th, city crews will
be working on 11th Street and Hunt Avenue to complete a street reconstruction project
funded by the Boyd School adoptive reuse grant. Temporary closures will take place on
11th Street and Hunt Avenue during the duration of the project. Work is scheduled to be
complete by early October.
July 14th 2026
Crews continue work on Aspen Acres Fire.
The Aspen Acres Fire now stands at 98,752 acres in size and is 36% contained as of last
night. There are currently 1,915 fire personnel working on the fire. Heavy equipment
and crews are constructing a robust fire line on the west side of Rye to defend the
community from the active fire currently taking place near north muddy creek, according
to officials. Most of the east side of the fire is contained, however, a challenging area
remains uncontained on the northeast side. Containment lines are expected to be tested
by hot, dry conditions in the forecast this week. The Fremont County Sheriff yesterday
moved areas in Fremont County under pre-evacuation status to "awareness" status due to
progress made by firefighters. Huerfano County, late yesterday, announced new pre-
evacuation notices for all forest service land north of Colorado 69 to the northern-most
Huerfano County line, county road 630 north of county road 630.1, and county road 634
north of 634.2, as well as for the entirety of the greenhorn wilderness area. The Bartlett
trail subdivision area was already under mandatory evacuation and that order remains at
this time.
CPW announces lethal action against uncollared wolf yesterday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced yesterday that some of its officers had to take
lethal action against an uncollared wolf in Routt County. Officers say they have
collected evidence that confirmed that the wolf was connected to multiple livestock
killings throughout Rio Blanco County in 2025 and early 2026. Since last summer, the
wolf had been involved in 10 confirmed events involving 22 sheep, with the latest being
two in Routt County on June 10th and 11th. CPW said they attempted minimization
efforts, but the wolf was not deterred. The wolf was originally part of the copper creek
pack, but had not been a part of the pack since June.
CDR announces tax filing extension for wildfire affected counties.
The Colorado Department of Revenue announced yesterday that it is offering an
extension on tax filing deadlines to taxpayers affected by the wildfires in the state. The
agency says that all residents and businesses in Dolores, Montezuma, Lake, Mesa,
Pueblo, Custer, Ouray, Las Animas, Baca, Routt, San Miguel and Huerfano counties are
eligible for a tax filing extension. Taxpayers in affected counties will have until
December 31st to file income and sales tax filings, which are usually due in October and
between July and October, respectively. Taxpayers can contact the revenue agency to
request penalty waivers for other taxes and fees due in October.
Water trail over amended plan continued in Alamosa yesterday.
The water trial taking place in Alamosa over the fourth amended plan of water
management for subdistrict 1 continued yesterday with testimony from state water
engineer Jason Ullman. Ullman said it is his view that the fourth amended plan is the
"most reasonable plan I can think of that would be likely to cause the aquifer to increase
in level". He said that while the decision has consequences, there's pretty significant
consequences to not doing something. With Ullman’s testimony complete, the trial now
shifts to the sustainable water augmentation group and its protest of the new plan.
Division 3 Water Court Judge Michael Gonzales is hearing the case and will make the
decision to implement the plan, or not.
Otero County Sheriff announces arrest of detention deputy.
Otero County Sheriff Shawn Mobley announced yesterday afternoon the arrest of Valarie
Alvarez, who was employed as a detention deputy. The arrest was made by The La Junta
Police Department. Mobley cited domestic violence charges stemming from April of this
year as the reason for the arrest. Mobley said Alvarez was "terminated effective
immediately not only for the violation of law, but also for violation of several sections of
the sheriff's office policy.
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