A massive wildfire in southern Colorado has grown to 115 square miles, forcing thousands of residents to flee under mandatory evacuation orders.
The Aspen Acres fire expanded from 55,391 acres on Thursday night to 73,377 acres by Friday afternoon, with zero percent containment.
The blaze is now the eighth-largest wildfire in Colorado history. It tore through Colorado City and pushed within 200 yards of the historic Bishop Castle tourist attraction.
Extreme fire conditions caused the fire to make two major runs around midnight and 4 a. m.
on Friday, preventing officials from safely assessing structural damage.
Alaska Complex Incident Management Team spokesperson Al Nash said cooler night temperatures failed to slow the fire until close to dawn.
Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero reported the fire was about 12 miles from Pueblo city limits.
He warned surrounding communities to remain vigilant and prepared for possible evacuation orders, noting he had seen fire behavior unlike anything in his 26 years in law enforcement.
Incident Commander Jake Livingston stated that fire crews remain engaged in defensive operations on the ground.
Bishop Castle Under Threat
Daniel Bishop, son of the late castle builder Jim Bishop and current caretaker, watched the fire's progression from a hospital bed via a remote trail camera.
He suffered a serious fall that left him with multiple broken ribs, preventing him from defending the property.
Bishop had spent the past year clearing deadfall and creating defensible space around the castle.
He restored an old volunteer fire truck to keep the area wet during fire season.
"I knew this was going to be a bad summer for fire danger," he said.
Stuck in a Colorado Springs hospital, Bishop expressed frustration at being unable to intervene.
"I'm at the mercy of those that have the power to change anything," he said.
He maintained hope for the landmark's survival, relying on faith that the castle would endure.
Bishop noted that rebuilding the intricate stone structure would be impossible under modern regulations. However, he emphasized that even in ruins, the castle would remain an awe-inspiring destination.
"I would do all I could to make sure that people had the opportunity to enjoy it, whatever is left of it," he pledged.
His sister, Donita Bishop, has been managing the castle's online presence from Gunnison during his recovery.
She said the family is relying on the trail camera to monitor the fire's proximity.
Community Impact
Local resident Kristy Shue described the emotional toll on agricultural families in Colorado City. "You watch the skies and pray that it doesn't get dark," she said.
"Someday, there won't be smoke in the air and devastation in our hearts."
She expressed concern for ranchers displaced by the fire, noting that agriculture sustains their way of life.
Joshua MacLeod highlighted the strong communication networks that helped neighbors assist each other during the emergency.
Other uncontained wildfires also expanded across Colorado on Friday, including the Ferris fire near Dolores at 33,428 acres, the Gold Mountain fire in Ouray County at 21,789 acres, and the Willow fire near Leadville at 2,541 acres.
Fire crews in Mesa County achieved 95% containment on the 30,191-acre Snyder fire.
