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For immediate release: Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
Walsenburg, CO – The morning of Tuesday, July 3, San Isabel Electric de-energized the Cuchara area and parts of Majors Ranch at the request of fire managers, to allow firefighters to work in the area.

On Monday, we were allowed a limited amount of time to look at our system, only in the Forbes Park area. We didn’t have enough time to get a complete assessment of the scope of work to restore power. We’re still waiting for fire managers to let us know when we can go back in. Once they say it’s safe, we will start rebuilding. The fire is still very active in our service territory and is taking down more line hour by hour.

We are struggling to cope with the losses the #SpringFire is causing our Members and our employees.  The fire is still very active in our communities. Hour by hour, the fire is further restricting our ability to access our system and causing more damage.

While our hearts are broken, we are also grateful to have been blessed with more than 700 men and women fighting the fire. We are praying for each one of them; to allow their minds to stay sharp and clear, to keep them safe from what they cannot see and hear and for their safe return to their own communities and loved ones, hopefully very soon.

As the fire is growing, so are our stockpiles of poles, line, cross arms, transformers, cabinets and everything else we might need when we’re allowed to rebuild. We are not just your electric utility we are your neighbors and we are here, ready and waiting to rebuild as soon as it’s safe.

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As a not-for-profit cooperative utility, San Isabel Electric provides electricity to communities throughout southern Colorado. Serving nearly 20,000 Member-owners and 24,000 meters, San Isabel Electric has been keeping the lights on since 1938.