FortisBC crews working round the clock to repair wildfire damaged electrical infrastructure
By Nelson Daily Staff
FortisBC crews have been busy working to rectify the extensive system damage to the electric infrastructure between Rock Creek and Westbridge and in Oliver due to recent fires.
"?We are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore service to these areas and repair the damage," said Nicole Bogdanovic, Corporate Communications Advisor for FortisBC.
Bogdanovic said the first priority is to maintain the safety of the public and FortisBC employees as they respond to these impacts.
"Both these areas remain active fire zones and we continue to work closely with emergency responders to make sure areas are safe for our crews," Bogdanovic said.
In Rock Creek, FortisBC is now rebuilding the 10-kilometer main line between Rock Creek and Westbridge.
Bogdanovic said as the main line is rebuilt, FortisBC will also repair damage to the multiple secondary lines that bring service to individual properties.
This will restore power to properties, on a case-by-case basis, in sections starting from Rock Creek. We will inspect each property for damage to buildings and electrical service before restoring power.
"We are working closely with customers to return service to each impacted property," Bogdanovic said.
"Customers from the impacted areas are asked to update our customer service team with their current contact information. We also encourage customers to contact us with any other questions or specific concerns about their electric service."
Bogdanovic said for those customers with damage to buildings or other structures, FortisBC requires an affidavit signed by a licensed electrician before we can safely restore service to the meter.
Customers are advised to refer to the BC Safety Authority's protocol on service restoration for more information.
Bogdanovic said once the restoration of the main line is complete, FortisBC workers would restore permanent service to customers now on temporary diesel-generated power.
"In the meantime, we appreciate the efforts these customers are making to conserve power, such as limiting their use to what they require for health and safety such as food storage and water handling inside their home," Bogdanovic said.
Bogdanovic said in Oliver, the main transmission line sustained substantial damage during the Wilson Mountain fire.
"In this area, we are waiting for the emergency officials to declare the area safe before we begin repairs. Currently, no customers are directly impacted," she said.
"We have multiple departments throughout our organization working closely together to restore permanent service to impacted customers as quickly as possible. A project of this scope would normally take a month or more to construct, plus require additional time in planning and procurement."
Bogdanovic said there are as many as 10 line construction crews replacing poles and conductors and additional brushing and falling crews working in advance to clear trees.
"We are also working with other Fortis Inc. companies such as FortisAlberta to bring in the necessary materials," Bogdanovic said.
"We ask for people’s patience as we make repairs. People travelling through these areas once roads reopen are asked to please respect all work zones so crews can work safely and efficiently."