Colorado couple sues utility over Aspen Acres Fire

A Colorado couple says San Isabel Electric Association’s powerlines sparked the June 29 Aspen Acres Fire that destroyed their home and spread across four counties. The lawsuit, filed Aug. 7 in Pueblo Combined Court, argues the utility failed to de-energize lines or take wildfire precautions during Red Flag conditions.

Why it matters: - The lawsuit puts San Isabel Electric Association at the center of another Colorado wildfire-liability fight tied to utility infrastructure. - Bryan Pearson and Amy Pearson say the fire destroyed their home, displaced them and caused broader property, income and emotional losses. - The case could add to legal pressure on utilities over wildfire mitigation, especially during extreme wind and Red Flag conditions.

What happened: - Bryan Pearson and Amy Pearson filed suit against San Isabel Electric Association, Inc. on Aug. 7, 2026, in Pueblo Combined Court. - The complaint says the Aspen Acres Fire started the morning of June 29, 2026, near Silvercliffe Drive in Custer County. - The filing alleges a tree limb contacted an SIEA powerline and sparked the wind-driven blaze. - Bryan Pearson says he witnessed the fire near its point of origin while staying at his mother’s home on Westcliffe Drive and documented the scene with photos and video. - The fire scorched more than 100,000 acres and destroyed roughly 900 structures across four counties, according to the complaint. - The plaintiffs are represented by Swigart Law Group, APC, and Evans Case, LLP. - A copy of the complaint is available here.

The details: - The complaint says sustained winds reached 40 mph, with gusts up to 100 mph, during a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning. - The fire damaged or destroyed the Pearson family home and its contents. - The blaze terrorized nearby communities including Beulah, Rye, Wetmore and Colorado City. - The lawsuit says SIEA had a duty to reduce wildfire risk in its service territory, including vegetation clearing and line de-energization during extreme fire danger. - The filing also says SIEA had publicly touted wildfire-mitigation technology and protocols, including sensitized protective settings during Red Flag conditions. - The complaint alleges SIEA did not de-energize lines in the fire-origin area or take adequate protective measures on the day the fire started. - The Pearsons are seeking compensatory damages for the home loss, evacuation and relocation costs, lost income, property and natural-resource damage, water contamination remediation and severe emotional distress. - The plaintiffs are also asking for attorneys’ fees and costs. - The complaint reserves the right to seek exemplary damages later, after initial disclosures. - The lawsuit brings six claims: inverse condemnation, negligence, negligence per se, landowner liability, trespass and private nuisance. - The Pearsons are suing individually and are not seeking class certification. - The complaint says additional plaintiffs could be joined later under Colorado’s permissive-joinder rules. - A jury trial has been demanded.

Between the lines: - The case follows a familiar wildfire-litigation pattern in Colorado, where plaintiffs have increasingly blamed utilities for ignition and spread. - The complaint tries to turn SIEA’s own wildfire-mitigation claims into evidence that the utility knew the risk and still fell short. - The filing’s focus on Red Flag warnings and line de-energization suggests the central dispute will be whether SIEA acted reasonably before the fire started.

What's next: - The case will move through early litigation in Pueblo Combined Court. - The parties are expected to exchange initial disclosures, which could shape whether the Pearsons pursue exemplary damages. - Additional plaintiffs may join the case as the litigation continues. - Trial will be decided by a jury if the case reaches that stage.

The bottom line: - The Pearson lawsuit adds to mounting scrutiny of Colorado utilities over wildfire prevention and the costs when power infrastructure is blamed for a fast-moving blaze.