Montrose Mobile Home Fire Determined to be Arson+Attempted Murder

The fire in Montrose on October 23 that destroyed a mobile home on Uncompahgre Road has been determined to be arson, as well as attempted murder.

Montrose County Sheriffs arrested Bruce Steele for the crime. Steele was already in custody on another matter.

The charges he is facing include suspected of attempted first-degree murder; first-degree arson; domestic violence; two counts of aggravated witness intimidation; four counts of aggravated animal cruelty over four dogs that have not been found since the fire and are presumed dead; reckless endangerment and menacing.

Steele was seen near the fire on October 23 with a fire starting agent and had also threatened to kill the woman living there as well as witnesses.

The fire burned the mobile home, vehicles, outbuildings and a second building that was being used for storage. Four animals are also thought to have perished in the fire.

Steele has a cash-only bond of $50,000 and is due in court again on November 14.