B.C. Hydro launches restoration work after Big Bar and Brunswick wildfires damage infrastructure
About 1,100 customers remain without power in the Big Bar Complex area after preliminary assessments identified damage to roughly 230 distribution poles and 200 transmission poles.
Sources · local media reports
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BC Hydro has begun restoration work in wildfire-affected areas while continuing to assess damage from the Big Bar and Brunswick wildfire complexes.
About 1,100 customers have experienced power outages in the Big Bar Complex area. Preliminary assessments have identified damage to approximately 230 distribution poles and 200 transmission poles affecting communities including Clinton, 70 Mile House, parts of the Cache Creek area, Big Bar Lake, the Highway 97 corridor between 70 Mile House and Clinton, and Loon Lake south of Clinton.
Ongoing wildfire activity continues to limit access to some areas, preventing crews from completing a full assessment. BC Hydro warned that additional damage may be discovered as the fires continue to burn.
Power restoration to the Clinton area could take up to two weeks, according to current estimates. Meanwhile, about 100 customers remain without electricity in the Brunswick Complex area affecting Boston Bar, Hell's Gate, China Bar, North Bend and surrounding communities. BC Hydro is preparing to begin restoration work on July 30 and 31, with repairs including replacement of 34 damaged transmission poles and five distribution poles. The utility said that as crews gain access to additional infrastructure, restoration timelines will become clearer.
By the numbers
How many customers lost power in the Big Bar Complex area?
About 1,100 customers experienced power outages in the Big Bar Complex area after the wildfire damaged infrastructure.
How many poles were damaged in the Big Bar Complex area?
Preliminary assessments identified approximately 230 distribution poles and 200 transmission poles damaged in the Big Bar Complex area.
When is BC Hydro starting restoration work in the Brunswick Complex area?
BC Hydro is preparing to begin restoration work in the Brunswick Complex area on July 30 and 31, 2026, with repairs including replacement of 34 damaged transmission poles and five distribution poles.
How long could power restoration take in the Clinton area?
Power restoration to the Clinton area could take up to two weeks according to BC Hydro's current estimates.
