Elm Tree Crashes, Causes Natural Gas Leak In North Tulsa

Dee Duren, Gary Kruse, NewsOn6.com

A large, dead elm tree crashed down onto a gas meter early Tuesday, causing a natural gas leak. Tulsa Fire Department crews responded to the leak in the 1000 block of North Rockford at 2:55 a.m.

The tree "sheared the pipe off at the ground," said Captain Alan Barnes, TFD.

Hazmat crews put two expanding plugs to temporarily fix the meters that are connected to a duplex. The plugs stopped the leak until Oklahoma Natural Gas workers can remove the tree and make repairs.

"They're going to have quite a bit of work to do to get this tree trunk all cut up and pulled off the meter so they can reinstall it," Barnes said.

The tree was about 3 feet wide and 10 feet tall. Barnes said it was probably dead for 10 to 12 years before the roots finally gave way.