The rapidly expanding Aspen Acres fire, first reported Monday morning, has exploded in size, consuming more than 23,000 acres, or 36 square miles, by early evening, according to an update from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

The wildfire is being fueled by 100 mph winds, making it impossible for crews to provide any aerial support, sheriff’s officials said.

“An unspecified number of structures have been affected by the fire,” sheriff’s officials wrote on social media.

Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations in the Beulah, Rye, San Isabel Lake and Bishops Castle area.

Other areas evacuated include Colorado 165 from Colorado 96 south to the Pueblo County line, 3R Road to Waterbarrel Road and South Burnt Mill Road to Interstate 25, about two miles south of Pueblo’s Southgate area.

Road closures include Colorado 165 in both directions from mile marker 11 to Stanley Avenue in Colorado City and Colorado 78 from Colorado 165 to Waterbarrel Road, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

An evacuation shelter has been established in the Pueblo County Recreation Center at 1650 Cooper Place.

Another shelter has also been set up at the Wetmore Community Center, 95 County Road 393.

Large animals can be brought to the Colorado State Fairgrounds through Gates 6 & 7 off Small Avenue.

Beulah is an unincorporated community of about 500 residents located along Colorado 78, about 21 miles southwest of Pueblo in the foothills of the Wet Mountains.

Earlier evacuation orders remain in place for residents of the Aspen Acres area along Colorado 165 to Old San Isabel Road, the Lazy Acres area and the area around Bishops Castle, a popular tourist attraction.

The San Isabel Electric Association reported power outages in the Beulah Valley and areas near the fire that are impacting more than 1,500 customers on Monday afternoon, according to an outage map.

“Lineworkers cannot get into the area to make repairs due to fire activity. We do not know when we will be able to access our equipment and do not know when power will be restored,” the utility warned in a post.

The fire started in the area of the Aspen Acres campground and was reported before 6 a.m. It went from 362 acres at 10 a.m. to 2,476 acres by around noon to more than 23,000 acres by evening.

The Pueblo County Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the response. The Pueblo Department of Public Health has issued an air quality alert and is urging all residents in Pueblo County to remain inside.

Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero and Fire Chief Barb Huber have placed the county under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit the sale and use of fireworks.

Gov. Jared Polis has also issued verbal disaster declarations for the Aspen Acres fire and for the Willow fire in Lake County.

The declarations will bring in additional state resources to help fight the fires, including engine and hand crews, as well as aerial resources.

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