My heart is still with Beulah today.
The Aspen Acres Fire has continued to grow through the Wet Mountains and down to the valleys and open prairies, burning more than 86,000 acres across Pueblo, Custer, Huerfano, and Fremont counties. Officials report the fire is still at zero containment, and evacuation orders remain in place for many communities, including Beulah, Rye, San Isabel Colorado City, Wetmore, and surrounding areas. Thousands of people have been displaced, and more than 180 structures have been lost.
It is hard to find the right words for a place that has always felt like peace. Beulah is not just a dot on a map. It is a sweet mountain town filled with kind people, quiet roads, wildlife, trees, memories, and that feeling you get when your soul can finally breathe. For many of us, Beulah is our happy place. Today, that makes this loss feel deeply personal.
Fire crews continue to work in difficult conditions. Over 600 firefighters are now assigned to the fire, and crews have been building containment lines, protecting homes, and using water drops from Pueblo Reservoir to slow the flames. Weather remains a concern, with dry conditions, possible thunderstorms, and wind gusts that could cause more fire growth.
On this Fourth of July, as so many people would normally be celebrating, I hope we remember the families who are waiting for news, the evacuees who are far from home, the firefighters standing between flames and neighborhoods, and the animals and wildlife caught in the middle of it all.
Please continue to pray for Beulah, Rye, San Isabel, Colorado City, Wetmore, Bishop’s Castle and every surrounding community touched by this fire. Pray for the people who have lost homes, land, memories, and a sense of safety. Pray for the firefighters, deputies, emergency workers, pilots, volunteers, and everyone working long hours to help.
May the winds calm.
May the smoke lift.
May the rain come gently.
May every person and animal find shelter.
May those who have lost so much feel surrounded by love.
And may our beautiful Beulah rise again, held by the strength of the mountains and the hearts of the people who love her.
Colorado strong ❤️
Note: This photo was shared in a post by Robert Bradford, whose home was spared in the Aspen Acres Fire here in Colorado. The picture itself was taken at his neighbor’s property, where a dry tree stump topped with a carved wooden eagle somehow survived the flames. Sadly, his neighbor’s home was lost in the fire.
To me, this image speaks boldly. It is both heartbreaking and powerful, a symbol of loss, survival, and hope rising from the ashes. I wanted to share it because it tells such a bittersweet story.
Photo credit: Robert Bradford.
Monetary Donations: Can be sent to the United Way Southern Colorado.