Oklahoma weather raises concerns over power line safety, fire risks
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — Concerns are mounting in Oklahoma as severe weather threatens the resilience of power lines, increasing the workload for fire departments and utility workers.
The Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and local fire departments are taking steps to address these challenges and protect residents.
Recent incidents, such as a tree falling on a power line and sparking a fire that damaged a home in North Tulsa, highlight the potential dangers.
The PSO is prioritizing safety and addressing affected power lines while launching projects to replace aging infrastructure.
"Safety is the most important thing during these situations for our employees and for customers," said Matt Rahn, Regional Communications Manager for PSO. "Make sure to call the PSO number to report that outage or that down power line."
PSO is collaborating with local officials, including the Tulsa Fire Department, to enhance community safety and preparedness.
"Safety is a shared community responsibility," said Andy Little, Public Information Officer for the Tulsa Fire Department. "While the fire department is here and available to respond, and we're proud to be able to do that, it's also our residents' responsibility to keep their families safe. So that includes things like having a working smoke alarm, having a plan of action, should there be an emergency in your home."
Officials are urging residents to have an emergency plan and ensure smoke alarms are functioning properly.