Oncor Electric Delivery is used to being under fire for trimming trees, but one North Dallas homeowner says the company ignored her pleas to cut her tree for seven months.
Cheri Chavason said the tree in her front yard grew into the power lines, causing sparking and at least one power outage. She said she called Oncor numerous times about the fire hazard.
"They are constantly telling me, 'Your house won't burn because it's brick, and your lawn will be greener because it's burned," she said.
Chavason said a flaming power line fell into her yard Sunday.
"It was windy, and they (tree limbs) blew into the line," she said. "It fell, setting our yard on fire."
A Good Samaritan who was passing by pulled over and put out the fire with a garden hose, Chavason said.
"Thank you. All I can say is thank you, whoever you are," she said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Even after the fire, Oncor still refused to trim the trees, Chavason said. But four hours after a reporter contacted the company, a crew was at her house, cutting back her tree.
"Certainly we want to be responsive to the customer," Oncor spokeswoman Carol Peters said.
She said the company is investigating Chavason's situation.
"In the meantime, we will be out there, cutting the tree back to make this right with the customer," Peters said.
Oncor tells customers to call to schedule a tree trimming if tree branches grow into lines in an alley, street or backyard utility easement. The company hires tree companies for pruning.
