San Isabel Electric faces lawsuit over Aspen Acres fire in southern Colorado
By James Gavato, KOAA
Four people have filed a civil lawsuit against the San Isabel Electric Association, claiming the company is allegedly responsible for the Aspen Acres fire and the damage it caused.
All four people who filed the lawsuit live in either Pueblo or Custer counties, Gazette news partner KOAA reported Wednesday night.
The lawsuit alleges that on the morning the Aspen Acres fire started, June 29, a witness allegedly saw a large tree leaning on a power line in the area. It goes on to say another witness videotaped a fire burning near a power line in the Aspen Acres subdivision.
The suit claims San Isabel Electric is responsible for maintaining the lines and failed to do so.
The document goes on to say that in the days before the Aspen Acres fire started, people in the subdivision saw fires they say were caused by power lines.
The four people are seeking financial compensation.
The Aspen Acres fire in Pueblo and Custer counties continued slow growth, according to officials on Wednesday, nearing the 100,000-acre burned mark.
Colorado’s seventh-largest fire in history grew by 452 acres since Tuesday, meaning it’s burned 99,529 acres. Containment remained at 36%.
More than 330 homes and 800-plus structures have been lost in the fire.