Fire Department Offering Cooling Station For Wagoner County Residents

Hundreds of people still don’t have power in Wagoner County after last week's storms. That means no air conditioning in the scorching heat.

But the Whitehorn Fire Department is trying to keep people cool by welcoming anyone in the area who might not have their power back to come inside.

Firefighter Bethany Sherrill said, "Just sit down and cool off for a little bit because we know how scary this heat can be."

The kitchen is stocked with water, snacks and bread for sandwiches. Sherrill said they'll do whatever it takes to help out.

"If I make a sandwich for a kid and they want PB&J, I'll run home and grab it if I have to," she said.

They want people like Scott Newquist to stop by. He's one of more than 800 Lake Region customers without power in Wagoner County, waiting in the heat.

"It's been terrible, been terrible," he said.

Crews are working to replace more than 100 broken utility poles and get the power back on after about 80 percent of Lake Region's customers lost power on Thursday.

Newquist said, "Oh this whole neighborhood was fist pumping when they pulled in here last night. They came in here in a convoy."

So while crews are busy restoring power, Sherrill said the firefighters want to be just as busy.

"Just sit down, relax, and let us work, let us take care of you. That's what we're here for and our community is - as firefighters, dispatch, EMS - that's what we're here to do," she said.

The cooling zone at the Whitehorn Fire Department will be open Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday if needed.

Lake Region said its goal is for all customers to have power back by Wednesday.