AMERICA'S PARADE RESCHEDULED TO AUGUST 1 - COLORADO DAY!
AMERICA's PARADE RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 1 IN FLORENCE
BY JASON HILTERBRAN
The last minute rescheduling of the America's Parade in Florence due to the Aspen Acres Fire has had people in the community wondering if there would be a parade this year to celebrate the 250th birthday of America and the 150th Colorado Statehood. The answer is yes.
Members of the America's Parade Committee met at the former Chelsea Chapel to vote on the rescheduling.
The priority to get the parade done as soon as possible now that Fremont County escaped harm from the Aspen Acres fire was paramount for Committee members. Colorado Day, August 1st, seemed to fit naturally.
"We also see it as an opportunity to highlight the county fair and livestock sale," said Treasurer, April Dean, "We expect the parade to be over by 12PM, so an additional theme for the parade will be 'Follow Us to the Fair' and we will then attend the Buyer's BBQ at the Fair at 2PM, the livestock auction at 4PM and the CPRA Rodeo at 7PM."
Formal approval must still come from City Council at the July 20th meeting, but the committee is excited and confident in its approval.
The downsides of the rescheduling are that the veterans from Bruce McCandless will not be in attendance due to their evacuation and scheduling returns back to the facility. Additionally, the Master Showmanship competition at the Fair is at 8:30AM so some of the participants can't be in the parade because they will be competing.
"We tried hard to reschedule the parade on a date that made sense, happened before school started and allowed for the most possible participation. Several groups can participate that couldn't before [when it was scheduled for July 4], but some can't. It's unavoidable and unfortunate - we wish everyone could come." said Committee Co-Chair Jim Sheridan, "but Colorado Day makes sense and we get to celebrate 150 years of Statehood AND America's 250th birthday - just belated."
There will be no water elements this year. Opening ceremonies with community awards begins at 9AM and the parade will kick off at 10AM. There are a limited supply of America's Parade t-shirts, hats and commemorative coins.
FIREFIGHTERS HOLDING THE CONTAINMENT LINES
BY JASON HILTERBRAN
Aspen Acres Fire Grows to More Than 101,500 Acres; Containment Reaches 61% as Firefighters Hold Containment Lines
Firefighters continue making steady progress on the Aspen Acres Fire burning west of Rye, though changing weather conditions continue to test containment efforts.
As of Tuesday's update, the fire has grown to 101,546 acres and is now 61% contained. Approximately 1,256 firefighters and support personnel remain assigned to the incident, which began on June 29 and was initially reported to have been human-caused, with the exact cause still under investigation, there are now reports of a powerline as a potential source.
On Monday, firefighters faced near-critical fire weather that produced increased fire activity across portions of the fire. Despite the challenging conditions, the fire largely remained within established indirect containment lines. A few small spot fires crossed primary containment lines, but crews were able to quickly contain those areas before they developed into larger problems.
Additional resources were shifted from other parts of the fire to reinforce the most active areas, while Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) joined helicopters in providing aerial support. Ground crews, including hotshot crews and bulldozers, continued strengthening containment lines southwest of the San Isabel area in preparation for future strategic firing operations.
Above Rye, helicopters continued making water drops along the Millset Trail containment line to cool hot spots and help keep the fire north and east of established control lines. Throughout the fire area, firefighters are also using unmanned aerial systems equipped with infrared imaging to locate lingering heat and direct suppression efforts more efficiently.
Night operations remain focused on patrolling containment lines, monitoring for new fire activity, and extinguishing any remaining spot fires along the southwest edge of the incident.
In areas where the fire has already passed, crews have begun the long process of repairing fire lines and reducing future erosion. Heavy equipment and hand crews are working north of Round Top Mountain and the Mingus Ranch area on post-fire suppression repairs, while firefighters in the northern and eastern portions of the burn area continue mop-up operations, fence repairs, and landscape stabilization.
Weather conditions are expected to become somewhat more favorable over the next several days. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity, along with the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms, should reduce overall fire activity through the end of the week. However, officials caution that gusty and erratic outflow winds from thunderstorms can still cause localized flare-ups, particularly in steep terrain.
Several evacuation changes were announced Tuesday.
In Pueblo County, evacuation areas P2 and P3 have been downgraded from pre-evacuation to clear status, while residents in P1 remain under pre-evacuation notice. Colorado City also remains in pre-evacuation status.
In Custer County, evacuation zones C4 and C10 were upgraded Monday from pre-evacuation to full evacuation status. Other affected areas remain under either evacuation or pre-evacuation orders. Officials are also providing dumpsters at McKenzie Junction for food spoiled during recent power outages and remind returning residents to watch for hazards such as damaged utility lines, unstable trees, and compromised propane tanks.
In Huerfano County, evacuation orders remain in effect for Zones H16 and H17, while neighboring Zone H15 remains under pre-evacuation status.
Fremont County continues under an Awareness Status, meaning residents are encouraged to stay informed through official sources, monitor conditions closely, and remain prepared should circumstances change.
The San Carlos Ranger District closure remains in effect, and National Forest lands within the fire area remain closed to the public. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) also remains in place, prohibiting all unauthorized aircraft, including recreational drones. Officials remind the public that unauthorized drone flights can interfere with aerial firefighting operations and pose significant safety risks.
Smoke conditions continue to vary across southern Colorado. An Air Resource Advisor is monitoring air quality impacts, and residents experiencing smoke are encouraged to check daily air quality forecasts and take appropriate precautions when conditions deteriorate.
Fire officials continue asking the public to avoid active fire areas so firefighters and heavy equipment operators can safely complete suppression and recovery operations without additional hazards.
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