Tag: Wildfire Recovery

From Fire to Floodwaters: Beulah’s Long Road to Recovery

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant1 Comment

There is encouraging news in the battle against the Aspen Acres Fire. The fire has burned approximately 102,000 acres and is 72 percent contained. The August 10 briefing listed 133 personnel assigned to the incident. The fire was human-caused, although the exact cause remains under investigation.

All evacuation and pre-evacuation orders have now been lifted. Colorado Highways 78 and 165 have reopened, allowing families and visitors to return to the area. However, portions of the Pike–San Isabel National Forest remain closed, and drivers must stay on paved roads and obey all closure signs.

Firefighters continue repairing containment lines, restoring drainage, replacing damaged fencing and reducing erosion. Smoke may still be visible near Lake Isabel, where steep terrain has prevented crews from reaching portions of the fire directly. Indirect firelines and structure-protection measures remain in place.

Although the immediate fire danger has decreased, Beulah now faces another serious threat: flash flooding and debris flows across the burn scar. Recent storms have already sent mud, water and debris across roads and properties. Residents have worked together to fill sandbags and protect homes, but many say they urgently need concrete barriers, heavy equipment and additional government assistance.

The National Weather Service expects monsoon moisture and heavier thunderstorms to increase beginning Wednesday, with the greatest flash-flood concern expected Thursday and Friday. Anyone near the burn scar should closely monitor official warnings and avoid flooded roads, creeks and low-water crossings.

The recovery will take months and for many families, years. A Recovery Assistance Center remains available at Beulah Heights Elementary School, 2670 Delphinium Street in Pueblo, for residents of Pueblo and Custer counties affected by the disaster. Current recovery information is posted on the

Beulah has survived the flames, but its struggle is not over. Even while surrounded by burn scars, damaged roads and heartbreaking loss, neighbors continue helping neighbors. The strength of this mountain community remains unmistakable: Beulah Strong.

Works Cited

Bartonek, Damien. “Beulah Residents Seek More Resources as Aspen Acres Fire Burn Scar Raises Flooding Concerns.” KKTV, 9 Aug. 2026, https://www.kktv.com/2026/08/10/beulah-residents-seek-more-resources-aspen-acres-fire-burn-scar-raises-flooding-concerns/. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

National Weather Service. “Area Forecast Discussion.” National Weather Service Pueblo, 11 Aug. 2026, https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=PUB&product=AFD&site=pub. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Pueblo County. “Pueblo Emergency Status Board.” Pueblo Emergency Status Board, https://puebloemergency.info/. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

SECO News. “Aspen Acres Fire 72% Contained; All Evacuation Zones Cleared, Highways 165 and 78 Reopen.” SECO News, 8 Aug. 2026, https://seconews.org/article/9457. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

SECO News. “Aspen Acres Fire Update: 72% Contained at 101,965 Acres Near Rye, Colorado.” SECO News, 10 Aug. 2026, https://seconews.org/article/9466. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

After the Fire, the Flood: Beulah’s Long Road to Recovery

Published on by Ann Marie BryantLeave a comment

The Aspen Acres Fire is still part of Beulah’s story, even as the emergency has shifted from active evacuation to recovery. As of the latest Pueblo County update, the fire is reported at 101,921 acres with 67% containment. The Joint Information Center has now closed, and residents are being directed to the Recovery Assistance Center at Beulah Heights Elementary School for help with recovery resources, cleanup guidance, assistance programs, and support.

While the fire itself is more contained, the danger is not over. The burn scar has created a new threat: flash flooding and debris flows. Heavy rain over burned ground can rush downhill quickly, carrying mud, ash, rocks, and debris into roads, driveways, creeks, and low areas. On July 28, heavy rain over the Aspen Acres burn scar caused flooding near Beulah Valley, including debris flow near Northcreek, Northcreek Cutoff, South Pine Drive, and Mountain Park. Officials urged people to get to higher ground and warned drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads.

The following evening, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency for the northern and central part of the Aspen Acres burn scar, including Beulah. Emergency managers reported heavy debris flow coming down 12 Mile and Highway 78, and the warning included Beulah, San Isabel, and Wetmore.

As of today, the National Weather Service continues to warn that showers and thunderstorms are possible over the Aspen Acres burn scar. If a strong storm develops, flash flooding could occur, especially over the central part of the burn scar. There is also an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke across much of Colorado, including Pueblo, Custer, Fremont, and Huerfano counties.

For Beulah, Pueblo Mountain Park, Rye, San Isabel, Wetmore, and the surrounding mountain communities, recovery now means watching both the sky and the hillsides. The flames may be more contained, but the scars left behind can still move with the rain.

May the rain come gently.
May the roads stay safe.
May families recovering from loss be protected.
May the firefighters and emergency crews continue to be strengthened.
And may Beulah keep rising, one careful step at a time.

Colorado strong ❤️

Monetary Donations: Can be sent to the United Way Southern Colorado.

Works Cited

Filangi, Shelby. “Heavy Rain Causes Flash Flood in Aspen Acres Burn Scar.” Colorado Public Radio, 28 July 2026.

Heaney, Briana. “Roads Washed Out and Residents Evacuated as Flash Flooding Continues on Aspen Acres Burn Scar.” Colorado Public Radio, 30 July 2026.

National Weather Service Pueblo, CO. “Flash Flood Watch for the Aspen Acres Burn Scar.” National Weather Service, 23 July 2026.

Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. “Aspen Acres Fire Recovery Resources.” Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, 2026.

Sintas, Tyson, Aspen Andrews, Bryce Patterson, Aaron Vitatoe, and Lindsey Grewe. “‘Aspen Acres Fire’ Remains at Nearly 102k Acres, Now 71% Contained.” KKTV 11 News, 29 June 2026, updated 4 Aug. 2026.

Update: Aspen Acres Fire

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant2 Comments

There is more hopeful news from the Aspen Acres Fire. As of the latest Monday update, the fire is now reported at 101,921 acres and 66% contained, with 881 personnel still working the fire. Fire officials also announced that management of the fire will transition Tuesday morning to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3.

Evacuation news continues to improve. Officials report that all evacuation zones have now been reduced to either pre-evacuation or clear status, though residents in pre-evacuation areas still need re-entry cards and should remain ready to leave again if conditions change.

Even with this progress, the loss remains heartbreaking. Reports list 241 homes destroyed in Pueblo County and 84 homes and five buildings destroyed in Custer County, with more than 850 total structures lost earlier in the incident.

For Beulah, Rye, San Isabel, Custer County, Pueblo County, and every family touched by this fire, recovery is only beginning. Firefighters are still working hot spots, strengthening fire lines, repairing suppression damage, and watching for flooding and new lightning-caused starts.

May the winds stay calm, may the crews stay safe, and may every family facing loss feel surrounded by strength, kindness, and hope.

Colorado strong ❤️

Monetary Donations: Can be sent to the United Way Southern Colorado.

Works Cited

Hulting, Aidan, Ashleigh Quintana, and James Gavato. “Evacuations Downgraded across

Southern Colorado, Aspen Acres Fire 66% Contained.” KOAA News5, Scripps Media, 2026.

Sintas, Tyson, Aspen Andrews, Bryce Patterson, Aaron Vitatoe, and Lindsey Grewe. “New

Management Team to Take over Management of ‘Aspen Acres Fire’ Tuesday; Nearly at 102K

Acres, 66% Containment.” KJCT8, Gray Media, 27 July 2026.

A Quiet Mountain Dream

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
View all responses

“Some places stay in our hearts, even when the landscape changes.”

This question used to feel pretty easy. If I could live anywhere in the world, the answer would be Beulah, Colorado, without any hesitation.  But since the fire, writing those words feels so different. It is still the place my heart loves, but now my heart also carries grief, worry, and prayer.

It is hard to write about a dream place when that special location has been wounded, when families have lost homes, memories, and peace of mind. Still, through the sadness, I would choose Beulah every single time.

It is a charming little town, tucked away in a lovely mountain valley, filled with beautiful landscapes, peaceful days, and kind and generous people. This mountain community cares for one another; people visit, check in, and wave, and it is so inviting that even strangers feel welcome. Life moves at a slower pace and reminds each of us to breathe a little deeper, look around, and appreciate what is right in front of us.

Throughout the year, the people gather for community events, small-town traditions, friendly conversations, and neighbors helping neighbors. This place feels like home, where people belong.

And the landscapes are breathtaking, filled with green pastures that stretch across the valley. A forest of thick Ponderosa pines covers the hillsides. The mountain air feels clean and calm. Pueblo Mountain Park, with its hundreds of acres, trails, picnic areas, and gathering spaces, offers fun and remarkable days outdoors. The perfect place to create lasting memories.

Wildlife has always been a part of Beulah’s magic. Deer graze in pastures and front lawns. Turkeys meander across roads and roost in nearby pines. On occasion, elk, bear, and mountain lion would be spotted. Some of my favorite pictures include bear cubs crossing roads or peeking through tree branches after climbing trees for protection.

This valley is my happy place. Beauty is found in every corner and every bend in the road. I especially love the golden hour when the sunlight dances between the pines and touches the valley in a soft, warm glow. Deer and squirrels visit and make themselves at home in yards around the valley, reminding everyone that Beulah is a place where people and nature live side by side. For me, Beulah will always be my escape from a busy world, a place to slow down, enjoy the beauty of nature, breathe in fresh air, and enjoy the peace the valley so freely offers.

Beulah celebrates all four seasons. Spring brings fat honeybees and wildflowers. Summer offers gentle rains, warm days, and cool evenings. Autumn paints the valley in gold, amber, and yellow. Winter turns everything quiet and still, covering the valley in snow and turning it into a magical winter wonderland. Each season shares its own kind of beauty, and each season gives Beulah another reason to be loved.

But now, as the community rebuilds, the beauty is found in its people. Neighbors and friends gather together again, offering helping hands, open hearts, and shoulders to lean on. Their strength rises as they continue to care for one another. Since the fire, that special grace and kindness matter even more.  Beulah is not just a pretty place; it’s also a community with heart.

The fire may have changed the landscape, but it has not changed the love the people have for this town. Some places will never look the same. Some families have lost their homes, and it is hard to write about wanting to live in a place when so many are grieving for what the fire took from them.

But the fire does not erase what Beulah truly means. If anything, it shows how deeply this special place is loved. I will always call Beulah my happy place, even when sadness may tug at my heart. I would still choose the peaceful living, the wildlife, the trails, the mountains, and most of all, its kind people. Home is sometimes loving a place through its hardest chapters.

Now, when I think of Beulah and the home of my dreams, I pray for healing. I imagine meadows turn green once again, birds singing from trees, wildlife returning to familiar places, and a loving community rebuilding with courage, faith, and love.

Beulah may be wounded right now, but she is still beautiful, still loved, and still the place my heart would choose.

So if I could choose anywhere in the world to live, I would still pick Beulah, not because it is untouched by hardship, but because it remains a place of beauty, kindness, strength, and the feeling of home.

Aspen Fire Update:

The Aspen Acres Fire has grown to approximately 93,600 acres, with containment improving to 15%. Firefighters continue to make progress, helped by higher humidity, though afternoon storms, lightning, and gusty winds remain a concern. Some evacuation areas have been downgraded from mandatory evacuation to pre-evacuation, but many communities, including areas near Beulah and across Pueblo, Custer, Fremont, and Huerfano counties, remain under evacuation orders. More than 1,300 personnel continue working to protect homes, strengthen containment lines, and support affected communities.

Colorado strong ❤️

Monetary Donations: Can be sent to the United Way Southern Colorado.

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