safety
Voss: Smoke, wildfires and what to do for your pet
Summary by Aspen News Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Dr. Kelly Voss Follow
dr.kellyvoss@gmail.com , Aspen Times
· July 20, 2026
· 5 min read
With several recent fires burning across Colorado, it has been a sobering summer for all of us. Combined with this year’s drought, the heightened wildfire risk has many residents thinking about emergency preparedness. While most families have thought about what they would do if an evacuation beca...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by Aspen News Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Dr. Kelly Voss Follow
dr.kellyvoss@gmail.com, Aspen Times Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Combined with this year’s drought, the heightened wildfire risk has many residents thinking about emergency preparedness.
Why this matters in Aspen News
Aspen's remote location and mountainous terrain make evacuation routes limited, emphasizing the need for pet owners to be prepared. In the event of a wildfire, residents may need to flee quickly, and having an emergency kit ready can be crucial. The Roaring Fork Valley's dry months increase the risk of wildfires, and pet owners should take advantage of the relatively calm periods to review and update their emergency plans. For those living in areas prone to spring runoff flooding or avalanche risk, having a plan in place for pets is equally important. The Aspen School District and city government may provide resources or guidance on emergency preparedness for pets, and residents should take advantage of these to ensure they are ready in case of an emergency. By taking a few simple steps, such as assembling an emergency kit and keeping important documents up to date, pet owners can help keep their animals safe in the face of disaster.
About this story
Original reporting by Aspen Times . Aspen News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: Aspen Times ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? With several recent fires burning across Colorado, it has been a sobering summer for all of us. Combined with this year’s drought, the heightened wildfire risk has many residents thinking about emergency preparedness. While most families have thought about what they would do if an evacuation beca...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by Aspen Times and curated for Aspen News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Dr. Kelly Voss Follow
dr.kellyvoss@gmail.com at Aspen Times. To learn more about how Aspen News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from Aspen News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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