A car collision with a power pole near J and 20 Road left Fruita Middle School and surrounding areas in the dark on Thursday, Dec. 19th, forcing the school to send students home mid-morning. The disruption impacted nearly 600 Grand Valley Power customers.
Emergency Procedures Kick In at Fruita Middle School
The morning began with District 51 implementing a shelter-in-place order for Fruita Middle School (FMS). However, as the power outage persisted, the district moved to reunify students with their families.
Parents received clear instructions through a Facebook post outlining the rules for the reunification process: students could only leave with a parent, guardian, or someone listed on their approved pick-up list. This additional step ensured student safety but added logistical challenges since phone lines and emails at the school were down.
“We had to act quickly to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students,” said a District 51 representative.
Cause of the Outage: A Car-Pole Collision
The outage, which left homes and businesses in Fruita without power, stemmed from an accident involving a vehicle and a power pole near J and 20 Road.
Grand Valley Power confirmed that nearly 600 customers were affected by the outage. Crews worked diligently to restore electricity, and power was back on just before 11:30 a.m.
Key Details:
- The accident occurred early Thursday morning.
- Fruita Service Area reported nearly 600 outages.
- Power restoration was completed within hours.
Disruption Impacts Local Community
For parents and guardians, the sudden dismissal added an unexpected wrinkle to their day. Many had to leave work or reschedule plans to pick up their children.
“It’s stressful, but I appreciate the school keeping the kids safe,” shared a parent waiting in line during the reunification process.
Local businesses were also impacted by the outage. Several stores and offices in the Fruita Service area reported delays and disruptions until power was restored.
Quick Resolution Prevents Extended Issues
Thanks to the swift response by Grand Valley Power, the outage’s duration was limited. Restoration before midday allowed the community to resume normal operations, minimizing long-term effects.
For Fruita Middle School, the incident highlighted the importance of having robust emergency procedures. Despite the challenges, the school’s response ensured students were safely returned to their families.
