Pueblo Fire Destroys 7 Houses

A wildfire sparked Sunday evening near mile marker 73 on southbound I-25, driven by winds toward Colorado City’s Applewood Estates mobile home community, located about 25 miles south of Pueblo.

All residents of the mobile home park were fully evacuated, with an emergency shelter established in Pueblo. No injuries were reported, and evacuations were lifted early Monday.

Seven homes burned completely to the ground and two others were damaged, authorities confirmed. The fire—now called the 74 Fire—has burned 3 to 5 acres in total.

Investigators believe a vehicle traveling along I-25 started the fire.

Storms in Store for Plains

Colorado is entering a multi-day stretch of severe weather, with storms possible along the Front Range and Eastern Plains through at least Thursday.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued Sunday in northeastern Colorado, where golf ball-sized hail and gusts up to 60 mph were reported in Logan, Washington, and Phillips counties.

Today is expected to be the most impactful day for the I-25 corridor, as a cold front will usher in conditions ripe for supercell thunderstorms from Denver to Fort Collins to Castle Rock.

By midweek, repeated storms tracking over the same areas could trigger localized flash flooding, particularly across the plains, before heat and elevated fire danger return this weekend.

‘Aggressive Bear Activity’ Closes Park

Jefferson County’s Apex Park near Golden closed Monday after a hiker reported a bear attack Sunday evening, the first such attack recorded in the state this year.

A woman said the bear grabbed her backpack, made contact with her leg, and followed her down the trail for more than 30 minutes around 5:20 p.m. Sunday, despite her attempts to scare it off with sticks and loud noises.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) searched for the bear that night but couldn’t locate it. A bear was spotted in a nearby neighborhood Monday morning, but it’s unclear if it was the same animal.

CPW says bear reports are elevated this year, likely due to a warm, dry winter that reduced natural food sources.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Voter service and polling centers opened Monday, allowing residents to return ballots, vote in person, and update registrations. More than 400 drop boxes become available statewide today, and in-person voting runs until June 30 at 7 p.m. (More)

➤ Chaffee County: Kaden Sites, 27, of Salida—a turkey hunter whose body was found after a dayslong search in April—died by suicide, according to a newly released autopsy report. (More)

➤ Denver: Officials are outlining a plan to improve the city’s emergency alert process after a series of mishaps, including sending citywide emergency alerts when only a one-block area was intended. (More)

➤ Boulder: Three victims of the 2021 Marshall Fire are traveling to Washington, D.C., this week to advocate for improved federal disaster recovery assistance for wildfire victims across the country. (More)

➤ Cañon City: A federal grand jury indicted local man Michael Popma, 40, a federal prison lieutenant in Florence, on charges that he accepted $15,500 in bribes to smuggle over 100 cell phones, 400 vape pens, and hundreds of bottles of alcohol into the penitentiary in 2024. (More)

➤ San Miguel County: A 36-year-old mountain biker was rescued Saturday after tumbling roughly 200 feet down a steep slope on Calico Trail west of Rico. (More)

Enjoy reading The Colorado Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ The Denver Nuggets hold the No. 26 pick in tonight’s NBA draft but could trade it to help shed salary. Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun are all reportedly available this offseason. (How to Watch)

➤ Broncos fourth-year linebacker Drew Sanders is back at edge rusher after bouncing between inside and outside linebacker through an injury-plagued career. It’s the first time since his rookie year that Sanders enters training camp fully healthy. (More)

➤ Former NHL forward Zack Stortini was named the first head coach of the New Mexico Goatheads, the Colorado Avalanche’s new ECHL affiliate team. Stortini spent the last four seasons as an assistant with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Free Yourself From Shoulder Pain Without Surgery. Just 12 minutes a day can help restore movement, reduce stiffness, and bring your shoulder back to life. No pills. No downtime. Learn More

➤ Erie Town Council will vote again today on whether to sell the town’s mineral rights tied to SM Energy’s proposed Draco Pad, a potential oil and gas mega-project spanning Weld and Boulder counties. An initial vote ended in a tie last week. (More)

➤ With cooling costs projected to hit record highs, Xcel Energy is advising Coloradans to set thermostats to 78 degrees when at home and 80 to 82 when away, run ceiling fans counterclockwise, and shift heavy appliances outside the 4-to-7 p.m. peak demand window. (More)

➤ House of Birria, a taco restaurant, has opened a new location in downtown Colorado Springs, adding to the city’s dining scene. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Markets are volatile. Inflation remains a concern. And every week seems to bring a new economic headline. When times are uncertain, getting good information matters. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Freedom Summit, a free online event on June 25 featuring economists, investors, and business leaders discussing what’s next for the economy, inflation, and financial markets. Register free today and save your spot.

Flying together with our sponsor

Why pay thousands for hearing aids?

Oricle Hearing Aids deliver crystal-clear sound, all-day comfort, and rechargeable convenience for under $100. No prescriptions, no appointments—just powerful, affordable hearing support you can trust. Join over 150,000 satisfied customers who’ve made the switch.

Hear better, live better—order Oricle today and save!

LEARN MORE

➤ Lake County Search and Rescue hauled supplies up Mount Elbert to run a mountaintop lemonade stand Sunday, handing out free drinks while sharing safety tips with weary hikers—who, as one rescuer put it, “thought we were a mirage.” (More)

➤ Military members, police, firefighters, and families who have lost loved ones to drunk driving competed Sunday in the annual Kart Racing for Heroes relay event, dedicated this year to the family of late Boulder cyclist Magnus White. (More)

➤ The Colorado Lottery is celebrating the state’s upcoming 150th birthday, which is Aug. 1, with new scratch cards, promotions, and contests. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Don’t wait for a $10,000 veterinary bill. Vet costs are rising fast—a single emergency visit can now cost up to $10,000, turning an unexpected illness or injury into a major financial hit. Lemonade Pet Insurance makes it easy and affordable, with customizable coverage, fast digital claims, and plans starting at just $10/month. Protect your pet before the next vet bill hits—get a quote from Lemonade Pet Insurance today. FIND AFFORDABLE CARE

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Everyone’s suddenly fighting about tipping, and the rest of the world thinks Americans are the confused ones. (Listen now)

➤ Nearly 50 years after little Etan Patz vanished on his way to the school bus, the Supreme Court just had the final say. (Listen here)

➤ A new book traces a question the Catholic Church keeps reopening but never answers: Were women once ordained as deacons? (Listen here)

Did you ever run a lemonade stand as a kid?

1. Yes, all the time
2. Yes, a few times
3. Yes, once or twice
4. No, never

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite way to beat the heat?

1. Staying inside: 35%
2. Lake/river: 16%
3. Pool: 15%
4. Other: 14%
5. Leaving the state: 11%
6. Water park: 9%

Colorado City, an unincorporated community in Pueblo County, shares a name with a town in what nearby state?

Show me the answer