48-inch water main ruptures
BY AMANDA BLAND World Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
12/18/12 at 7:50 AM
A Tulsa day-care center was evacuated Monday after a water main break near 61st Street and Mingo Road.
A police officer patrolling in the area heard a loud noise and saw water "bursting up" from a sidewalk in front of Woodland Hills Church of Christ, 9119 E. 61st St., just after 9 a.m., Officer Leland Ashley said.
City officials said more than 25 utility workers responded to the scene after a 48-inch transmission waterline at 61st Street and 92nd East Avenue broke.
Police closed 61st from 90th East Avenue to Mingo Road.
Northbound and southbound lanes on Mingo remained open, but 61st between Memorial and Mingo is expected to be closed through Tuesday evening.
Emergency responders discovered that 31 children and eight adults were trapped in the nearby Blossom Child Care Center, 9135 E. 61st St.
Water surrounded the building but did not flood it, Fire Capt. Stan May said.
Firefighters stood by with four inflatable boats and a front-end loader in case water caused immediate danger to those inside the facility, he said.
About 10:45 a.m., city crews were "able to isolate the break by shutting valves to the line," according to a news release.
Emergency responders were then able to walk the children and staff members out of the day-care center after water began to recede about 11:20 a.m., May said.
Police said no one was in the church, which likely was damaged by the water.
The cause of the break is under investigation.
World Staff Writer Jerry Wofford contributed to this story.
Amanda Bland 918-581-8413
amanda.bland@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Emergency personnel and parents take children from the Blossom Child Care Center to another facility Monday after a water main break near 61st Street and Mingo Road. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
A Tulsa firetruck is parked in high water Monday on 61st Street just west of Mingo Road. A water main break snarled traffic in the area and forced the evacuation of a day-care center. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
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