BC Hydro has started wildfire restoration work after extensive damage across B.C. Learn which communities face outages and when power may return.
BC Hydro Launches Power Restoration After Wildfire Damage
BC Hydro has started restoring power in parts of British Columbia after wildfires caused widespread damage to the province’s electrical network. At the same time, crews continue to inspect affected areas because active fires still block access to some locations.
The utility says the Big Bar and Brunswick wildfire complexes have damaged hundreds of power poles, leaving many homes and businesses without electricity. As conditions improve, more repair work will move forward.
Hundreds of Power Poles Damaged
Early inspections show the scale of the destruction. So far, BC Hydro has identified damage to about 230 distribution poles and 200 transmission poles in the Big Bar wildfire area.
Around 1,100 customers have lost power because of the fires. However, the total amount of damage could rise since some areas remain unsafe for inspection.
Communities Continue to Face Power Outages
Several communities remain affected by the outages, including:
- Clinton
- 70 Mile House
- Parts of the Cache Creek area
- Big Bar Lake
- Communities along Highway 97 between 70 Mile House and Clinton
- Loon Lake, south of Clinton
BC Hydro says firefighters continue to battle the wildfires, so repair crews cannot safely reach every damaged location. As a result, complete damage assessments will take more time.
Clinton Area Could Wait Up to Two Weeks
Residents in and around Clinton may need to wait up to two weeks before electricity is fully restored.
Even so, BC Hydro says restoration crews are working as quickly as conditions allow. In addition, the utility expects repair timelines to become more accurate once teams reach more of the damaged infrastructure.
Repairs Also Underway in Brunswick Wildfire Zone
Meanwhile, BC Hydro has scheduled restoration work for July 30 and 31 in areas impacted by the Brunswick Wildfire Complex.
About 100 customers remain without electricity in:
- Boston Bar
- Hell’s Gate
- China Bar
- North Bend
- Nearby communities
Repair crews plan to replace 34 damaged transmission poles and five distribution poles as part of the first phase of restoration.
More Updates Expected as Access Improves
BC Hydro says restoring service remains a top priority. However, wildfire activity continues to create challenges across several regions. Therefore, crews will keep assessing the electrical system as soon as it is safe to enter affected areas.
The utility adds that restoration schedules will become clearer as access improves and additional inspections are completed.
