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Jan. 3, 2001
By Tom Vaughan A fire of uncertain origin swept through a rural Mancos-area house Wednesday, leaving it gutted and the residents without a home. "I’m wiped out — I just need to start over," declared Tonya Grewe after seeing the burned-out shell of her family’s home. No one was injured in the blaze, which apparently began late in the morning. Dennis Butler, a neighbor, reported seeing flames coming out of the garage door of the metal-roofed, wood-frame structure at 38460 Highway 184 around noon Wednesday and called 911. There were no vehicles at home, he said, but when he approached the building, it was "already so hot you couldn’t get to the front door." The Mancos and Dolores fire departments both responded, but the flames gutted the structure and destroyed, charred or smoked practically all of the family’s belongings. Monroe and Tonya Grewe and daughter Tiffany Crites, a Mancos High junior, were renting the building from Jim Clay, of Farmington, N.M., according to Dave Petillo, a friend of Clay’s. The cause of the fire had not been determined at press time. Tonya Grewe said they had noticed that the furnace was acting oddly, but did not check it because it was in a space under the house where Monroe, who had a back injury, couldn’t get at it. Nobody was at home when the fire began. Tiffany was with friends, Monroe had taken the dog to the veterinarian and Tonya was at work at Century 21 West Slope Realty in Cortez, where she is a broker associate. Tonya Grewe said she was thankful that her family was safe and the dog was safe. She expressed confidence that "Century 21 will help me and my church will help me." Martha Robinson, victims’ response coordinator, is helping the family find lodgings and temporary assistance, but they need clothes and other aid. People who want to help should call Century 21 Realty at 565-8408 or Evangel Assembly of God Church in Cortez, 565-4198.
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez
Journal. All rights reserved. |
