Residents of Fremont, Pueblo counties worry about threat from advancing Aspen Acres Fire

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Highway 96 through Wetmore in Custer County is closed as part of the latest evacuation from the Aspen Acres Fire, but on Thursday, many drivers were either unaware of it or were hoping to be allowed through.

A checkpoint is in place at the junction of Highways 67 and 96, manned by county deputies and state troopers.

Overnight and until late morning, deputies manned a second checkpoint on Highway 67, 11 miles north of Wetmore, just south of Florence in Fremont County, at the County Road 15 intersection.

The Wetmore checkpoint is around five miles west of the roadblock established on 96 at the Pueblo County line; the closure ends at Silver Cliff, just outside the county seat of Westcliffe.

Residents of both counties began expressing concern on Wednesday as they watched wildfire smoke approaching, and even saw ashes falling.

Authorities said that winds shifted overnight, causing the fire to briefly spread southeast and southwest, but expected winds to change again after sunrise and continue the fire's northward advance.

Many drivers were trying to reach Westcliffe, and were told by authorities that they'd have to detour to westbound US 50 and take Highway 69 to Westcliffe -- a trip that could take at least 90 minutes.

"We were trying to go back up to get our trucks and our chipper, so we can go to work in Florence, but they're not letting us through," Robin Boyd, a local contractor, explained. "We're waiting on a phone call from our supervisor."

Some drivers came from longer distances, disappointed at having to detour.

"I'm going back to Arvada," said Tirion Tompkins, another contractor. "It's just too long of a detour. I knew the fire was close by, but I didn't think that Highway 96 might be closed."

Tyler Shull, of Woodland Park, spent a long time pulled over and trying to rearrange his schedule.

"I'm going to have to coordinate with a realtor, and also some clients, on how to get to where I was going, and when the deadline for an inspection is," he said.

Drivers had mixed feelings -- frustrated by the road closures but understanding the need for them.

"I've lived out here for around 35 years," Boyd said. "I've seen a few. They've evacuated me before, on other fires. This one seems to be the worst one I've ever seen, to be honest."

There's no timetable yet on when road closures because of the fire will end; stay tuned to the KRDO networks for updates.