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Nowata Public Works Authority loses building, equipment in overnight fire

Downtown Nowata a few blocks away from the Public Works facility
City of Nowata
Downtown Nowata a few blocks away from the Public Works facility

The Nowata Public Works Authority lost its facility and everything stored there in a catastrophic fire.

Nowata officials were alerted to the fire at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a press release from the city. Less than an hour later, their Public Works Authority building and everything on site was destroyed, including heavy equipment and seven of the department’s nine vehicles.

The Nowata Public Works Authority maintains the water system, sewers, streets, parks and cemeteries for the northeast Oklahoma town of around 3,700 people.

“They're responsible for all of the city maintenance, everything,” City Manager Melanie Ward told the Tulsa World. “If a water main breaks, we'll be able to go fix it, but it's going to take us longer.”

Officials are still assessing the scene of the fire and have not determined a cause, but Ward said it was likely an electrical issue. The city has asked residents to avoid the area and warns against trespassing on the site of the destroyed facility.

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Graycen Wheeler is a reporter covering water issues at KOSU as a corps member with Report for America.
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