Custer County Office of Emergency Management

09/04/2026

GOOD NEWS FOR CUSTER COUNTY

President Trump has approved FEMA Public Assistance (PA) for communities impacted by the devastating Aspen Acres Fire. This is an important milestone in our recovery and will help support critical emergency response and recovery work, including damaged public roads, infrastructure, and other eligible public needs.

But I want to make an important distinction: PA is NOT the same as Individual Assistance (IA).

Public Assistance (PA) helps eligible governments and public entities recover from disaster-related costs and damage to public infrastructure.

Individual Assistance (IA) is the program that can provide direct assistance to eligible individuals and households who suffered disaster-related losses, including housing and certain necessary disaster expenses.

Custer County has been approved for Public Assistance, but Individual Assistance is still under review. We will continue advocating for IA because we know so many families lost homes, property and livelihoods—and they need help, too.

We are grateful to everyone who wrote letters, made calls, and advocated for our community. Your voices mattered.

This is an important step forward, but our work is not finished.

Custer County will continue standing together.

09/04/2026

08/20/2026

⚠⚠⚠ Custer county residents, do you have questions about insurance, processes, or anything to do with insurance needs look here for information!!!!!!!👀

08/19/2026

To help Custer County residents safely and affordably dispose of Wildfire Ash, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has approved a County‑funded disposal program at Southside Landfill in Pueblo. Disposal fees for qualifying loads will be charged to the County.

08/12/2026

Rebuilding Aspen Acres starts with safe, informed cleanup. This simple one-page guide gives homeowners everything they need to handle debris the right way and keep our community safe. Please pass it along to your neighbors

08/10/2026

RAPID TAGS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED AS ALL STATE AND COUNTY ROADS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO ZONES IN CUSTER COUNTY ARE UNDER PRE EVACUATION OR EVACUATION STATUS.

07/21/2026

07/21/2026

RE-ENTRY INTO C4 & C3 AT 10:00 AM JULY 22ND. OEM AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WILL BE AT A STAGING AREA WITH SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT. UTVs WITH SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL WILL BE MOVING AROUND THE AREA TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS.

07/20/2026

RE-ENTRY FOR JULY 21 IS CANCELED DUE TO FIRE ACTIVITY.
C4 IS UNDER EVACUATION AND THE SHERIFF OFFICE IS GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO INFORM RESIDETNTS.

07/20/2026

Update 3:44pm Monday, 7/20/2026

ALERT NEW MANDATORY EVACUATION:
Custer Zone C4 is back under mandatory evacuation.
Custer Zone C10 is also under mandatory evacuation (there are no homes in Zone C10).

The re-population for Custer Zone C3, originally scheduled for tomorrow morning, is canceled.

This is necessary due to increased fire movement.
Aspen Acres Fire 2026

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Update from Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith on the Aspen Acres Fire.

Burning operations between the fire's edge and San Isabel will be occurring today. If you see smoke and flame in that area, that is the crews working, strategically burning the unburned fuels. This work lets us reopen the highway safely and move toward opening C2.

Zone C3 opens to residents tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21 at 9 a.m. A re-entry card is required at traffic control points.

Pick one up at the Disaster Assistance Center:
Lange Hall, 310 S 3rd Street, Westcliffe
Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Sat 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bring photo ID or proof of residency.

As C2 opens, Sol Vista will be in the area for support.

Two asks as people return:
-Please stay off the roads from 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Those are firefighter traffic windows.

-Once you are home, please stay on your own property. There are still active hazards, crews are still working, and your neighbors deserve privacy right now.

Every step here is about getting people home as safely and quickly as we can. We are moving in the right direction.

Follow the Custer County Sheriff's Office and Aspen Acres Fire 2026 pages for official updates.