Residents of British Columbia's wildfire-affected areas may experience power outages persisting until August 30.
Mount Underwood Fire: BC Hydro Crews Work to Restore Power
A wildfire that broke out on August 11, south of Port Alberni, has caused significant damage to power infrastructure in the Bamfield, Huu-ay-aht First Nation, and Ditidaht First Nation communities on Vancouver Island. The Mount Underwood fire, spanning over 3,600 hectares, has destroyed 56 power poles and lines, resulting in a power outage affecting more than 500 customers.
BC Hydro has taken the lead in the power restoration efforts, with crews working tirelessly since August 16 to rebuild and repair the damaged infrastructure. The restoration process involves restringing approximately 70 spans of power line, covering nearly 20 kilometres. This includes a six-kilometre rebuild, with two kilometres of rugged terrain that poses challenges due to steep forested cliffs and unstable rock.
As of now, crews have placed 15 new power poles and strung 11 spans of power line, cleared debris, and removed hazardous vegetation. The focus of the restoration efforts is on the north and southwest flanks of the fire to prevent it from spreading further.
The B.C. Wildfire Service is currently working to contain the Mount Underwood fire, with 160 personnel on the ground. The fire risk has reduced, according to the fire information officer, and the B.C. Wildfire Service is in a position to reevaluate the evacuations and alerts near the fire. Two evacuation orders and three evacuation alerts remain, but they are being reevaluated.
However, the smoky skies are expected to persist in the coming days due to suppression and bucketing efforts. The B.C. Wildfire Service is hopeful that the fire will not grow bigger at this time.
Despite the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and the extent of the damage, BC Hydro and the B.C. Wildfire Service remain committed to restoring power and containing the fire as quickly and safely as possible.
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