Emergency crews responded to reports of a grass fire on Brookfield Road in the Sunshine Valley community of Clearwater Friday (July 15) afternoon.
Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene with the three fire trucks and quickly extinguished a grass and electrical fire, after a hydro pole was knocked to the ground, causing the transformer to ignite. Fire Chief Mike Smith said it appeared a local contractor’s semi-trailer was exiting a residential driveway with a load, catching on the overhead wires and pulling the hydro pole to the ground.
The hydro pole initially fell on the cab of the semi-trailer, which had the 47-year-old driver and 21-year-old passenger inside. Neither suffered any injuries and the vehicle was no damaged.
RCMP later confirmed the truck was the reason for the pole falling over, however, it appeared heat may have led to the wires dropping lower than usual and upon inspection, the bottom of the pole was soft and decayed.
A local bystander said there was a loud crash and a popping sound just before the power went out.
BC Hydro was on scene assisting with clean up and worked quickly to get power back for residents. Considering the company had to replace the pole, transformer and street light, restoration of power would take some time. According to BC Hydro’s media centre, power was finally restored for 76 households in the area at 7:30 p.m.
newsroom@clearwatertimes.com
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