A wind-toppled aspen tree that struck live power lines sparked the Aspen Acres Fire on June 29, state investigators concluded in a report released Oct. 13. The fire began about 200 feet west of Highway 165 near Custer Drive in Custer County, outside Rye. Investigators said high winds uprooted the tree, pulling overhead lines to within about three feet of the ground. Electrical contact heated the tree bark and nearby vegetation until they ignited; molten aluminum dripping from a wire may also have contributed. Charred bark, melted wiring and burn patterns pointed investigators to the location. Accounts from nearby residents helped corroborate the findings. The report ruled out lightning, discarded smoking materials and arson, and rejected a second suspected origin near Silvercliffe Drive, where a different tree had been seen leaning against power lines. The finding comes as people whose homes were destroyed seek compensation from San Isabel Electric Association. The utility faces at least five lawsuits alleging its equipment and failure to reduce fire risks caused the disaster. The investigation identifies the ignition source but does not assign legal liability or conclude that the utility was negligent. San Isabel Electric declined to comment on the report or pending litigation, saying it was focused on helping the community recover. The June 29 fire was initially classified as human-caused, but its specific origin had not been established. It became Colorado's seventh-largest wildfire, burning more than 100,000 acres and destroying hundreds of homes in southern Colorado. At the time of the report, it was listed as 82% contained.