Fruita Middle School is alerting parents to a reunification process in response to a power outage affecting the school and surrounding areas.

Reunification Plan in Action

On December 19th, Fruita Middle School initiated a reunification procedure due to an ongoing power outage, which also impacted the surrounding neighborhoods. District 51 informed parents through social media that students must be picked up by a parent, guardian, or an individual listed on the student’s approved pick-up list.

This process aims to ensure the safety of all students as the school continues to be affected by the outage.

Power Outage Details

The power outage, which began earlier that morning, was caused by a car vs. pole accident at the intersection of J and 20 Roads. According to Grand Valley Power, the accident left two power poles down and left approximately 590 members of the Fruita service area without electricity.

As of 8:50 a.m., around 445 customers were still without power. The utility company stated that restoration could take hours, but they were working with emergency services to clear the area and restore power as safely as possible.

• Outage Updates:
  • 6:15 a.m.: 590 members affected; crews were dispatched.
  • 7:25 a.m.: Pole down; outage affecting 590 members.
  • 8:15 a.m.: 445 members still impacted; no estimated restoration time.

Grand Valley Power urged residents to avoid the intersection of J and 20 Roads for safety reasons.

Ongoing Efforts and Communication

The school and Grand Valley Power continue to monitor the situation, keeping families informed via regular updates. While students remain safely inside, the district emphasized that safety is the top priority. The outage and the subsequent disruption caused by the accident have led to challenges for families and first responders in the area.

Officials are working hard to minimize the inconvenience, though the lack of power continues to complicate daily activities.