BC Hydro assesses over 150 damaged infrastructure pieces from Bradley Creek fire
Wildfire has caused extensive damage to power equipment, leaving 1,700 customers without electricity. Restoration timeline remains unclear.
Sources · local media reports
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The Bradley Creek wildfire has caused extensive damage to BC Hydro infrastructure across the Okanagan, with damage assessments indicating more than 150 pieces of equipment have been destroyed or compromised.
More than 100 distribution structures — including power poles and related equipment — have been damaged by the fire, which continues to burn across the region. BC Hydro said it is waiting for clearance from BC Wildfire Service before crews can safely enter affected areas to begin restoration work.
Nearly 3,500 customers in the Westside Road, Vernon, and Spallumcheen areas initially lost power. By Sunday, BC Hydro had restored electricity to some areas, reducing the number of impacted customers to approximately 1,700.
On Sunday, BC Hydro crews focused on the Westside Road corridor, removing damaged electrical equipment while supporting wildfire response efforts. The utility cautioned that additional damage could be identified as crews gain access to more affected areas.
BC Hydro said customers in affected areas should prepare for prolonged outages while crews continue assessments and develop a restoration plan. In a separate update, the utility reported that transmission lines affected by wildfire activity in the East Kootenay region were restored at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday.
The utility is working closely with BC Wildfire Service to ensure the safety of firefighters and crews operating in the area.
How long do crews estimate it will take to restore power to all affected customers?
What is the estimated cost of repairing the 150+ damaged infrastructure pieces?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
By the numbers
How many pieces of BC Hydro equipment were damaged in the Bradley Creek fire?
More than 150 pieces of BC Hydro infrastructure were destroyed or compromised by the Bradley Creek wildfire, including over 100 distribution structures such as power poles and related equipment.
How many customers lost power from the Bradley Creek fire?
Nearly 3,500 customers in the Westside Road, Vernon, and Spallumcheen areas initially lost electricity. By Sunday, August 2, 2026, BC Hydro had restored power to some areas, reducing the number of affected customers to approximately 1,700.
