Colorado 165, 78 reopen after being closed for over a month from Aspen Acres fire
Colorado 165 and 78 reopened Friday night after being closed for over a month because of the Aspen Acres fire, Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith said.
The authorities closed the highways on or around June 29 when the blaze broke out in Custer and Pueblo counties.
“Very important to notice, though, the forest service roads are still closed. You cannot drive on a forest service road, especially 369 and the Ophir Creek Road. Those are still being heavily used by the fire(fighters),” Smith said in a Facebook video.
Smith also warned that flooding is expected on the roads starting Tuesday.
Update on Aspen Acres fire
Fire officials reported that the fuels’ moisture levels are triple the amount that they were when the blaze began, Smith said.
“We still don’t know how the months of August, September, October will go — it could potentially get dry again,” Smith said.
The authorities lifted pre-evacuation statuses for zones C-1, C-2 and F-55 Friday night.
The Aspen Acres fire has burned 101,965 acres as of Saturday morning, and it is 72% contained.