Dunn Search Takes Backseat to Fire Recovery
By: Megan Dobbs and Stetson Samuel
Updated: March 1, 2011
More than a dozen Mitchell County families are still weighing the damage left behind from Sunday's massive wildfire.
With hot spots still flaring up, the search for missing teen Hailey Dunn has slowed.
"We didn't realize the fire had come this way, and we couldn't get through here until several hours later", says Jeremy Strain.
Strain got word that his grandmother's house caught fire the Colorado City blaze and like several others in Mitchell County, Jeremy now has only memories left of the home he once knew.
"As a kid growing up, coming up here and playing and riding bikes out here", recollected Strain.
Strain was not the only resident picking up the pieces, many Mitchell County families are meeting with insurance adjusters this week.
The fire and recovery efforts may put the investigation into the Hailey Dunn's disappearance case on hold.
Authorities say the blaze has caused a delay in search efforts. City Manager, Pete Kampfer, says the areas affected by the fire are not key places in the investigation.
"We'll not be able to get access to a lot of the areas, because they're still on fire and we're still putting out flare-ups and fire of that kind of nature", said Kampfer.
Kampfer also added that the fire cleared some brush, so it may actually be easier to search areas in the Hailey Dunn case.
With flames still burning, and hot spots still flaring up, the investigation will have to wait, while residents try to take in and assess their losses.
"It's kind of breath taking, you know, when you first drive up and see it and think about what was here and what you see now", adds Strain.
A much different view for many of what was once home for many.
With hot spots still flaring up, the search for missing teen Hailey Dunn has slowed.
"We didn't realize the fire had come this way, and we couldn't get through here until several hours later", says Jeremy Strain.
Strain got word that his grandmother's house caught fire the Colorado City blaze and like several others in Mitchell County, Jeremy now has only memories left of the home he once knew.
"As a kid growing up, coming up here and playing and riding bikes out here", recollected Strain.
Strain was not the only resident picking up the pieces, many Mitchell County families are meeting with insurance adjusters this week.
The fire and recovery efforts may put the investigation into the Hailey Dunn's disappearance case on hold.
Authorities say the blaze has caused a delay in search efforts. City Manager, Pete Kampfer, says the areas affected by the fire are not key places in the investigation.
"We'll not be able to get access to a lot of the areas, because they're still on fire and we're still putting out flare-ups and fire of that kind of nature", said Kampfer.
Kampfer also added that the fire cleared some brush, so it may actually be easier to search areas in the Hailey Dunn case.
With flames still burning, and hot spots still flaring up, the investigation will have to wait, while residents try to take in and assess their losses.
"It's kind of breath taking, you know, when you first drive up and see it and think about what was here and what you see now", adds Strain.
A much different view for many of what was once home for many.
Comments
I hope It makes it easier but it may not I keep waiting for an arrest ovetr the [censored], but I'll say there will be a lot of lying going on there because it will not belong to either of them [BILLIE OR SHAWN] They will know nothing about it even though it was in Billie's bedroom in dresser drawer
esther t.
March 2, 2011 at 12:29 pm
perhaps a blessing in disguise. work your karma for those trying to find you, Hailey!
BILLIE & SHAWN: WHERE'S HAILEY?
tick tock....tick tock....only a matter of time now....who'll be the first to race to make The Deal.
BILLIE & SHAWN: WHERE'S HAILEY?
tick tock....tick tock....only a matter of time now....who'll be the first to race to make The Deal.
Sierra S.
March 2, 2011 at 7:16 am
