News Headlines

Exposed Wires In Neighborhood: Dangerous?

Channel 6 was contacted by a viewer concerned by an open box full of exposed wires in her neighborhood.

Posted: 3:36 PM Jul 17, 2012
Reporter: Amaka Ubaka

Channel 6 was contacted by a viewer concerned by an open box full of exposed wires in her neighborhood.

Marla Wright says she drives by 49th & Curtis daily and sees several children playing near a large amount of exposed wires. She told Channel 6 that she’s made several phone calls to OPPD and the mayor’s hotline to make them aware, but nothing was ever done.

“I’m a mother and a grandmother and I want make sure that none of the kids touch this in case there is something wrong,” says Wright.

Wright says the wires have been exposed for at least six months.

“I don't think its supposed to be here like that so I think they can do something about it.”

So Channel 6 made OPPD aware of the electrical box and they sent out a crew right away to check it out. But it didn’t belong to them.

It turns out it was a telephone box that belonged to Centurylink.

“It didn't knock out phone service to this area so we didn't get an alarm or become aware of it right away,” says Spokesperson Karl Bieber.

After our phone call they sent a crew out to put a new connector box on top of the wires to make sure it's safe.

“It's a low voltage system so its similar to the phone lines in your house,” says Bieber.

“They do have a little bit of electricity going through them and there's a slight hazard there, but its nowhere near an open electrical outlet or an AC outlet.”

We also checked with a Channel 6 engineer who says if the telephone wires had been active it would cause a jolt, but wouldn’t seriously harm someone.