UPDATE: 10:10 a.m.
Power has been restored in most affected areas in Vernon, but B.C. Hydro says about 2,500 customers will be out of power until the late afternoon.
Crews will need to replace a telephone pole that caught fire after a piece of B.C. Hydro equipment malfunctioned near the DND fields. Replacing the pole alone will take four to six hours.
“It’s an estimate because removing a pole that’s been there for decades can be a challenge in a congested area,” sad Dag Sharman, a spokesperson for B.C. Hydro. “It’s like a mini construction project.”
In the meantime, other crews have managed to temporarily reconfigure the system while the work is being done to get as many customers as possible back on power. This morning more than 8,000 were without power, but 2,500 will remain out until the pole is fully replaced.
The areas still without power include the area up by the DND lands where the malfunction occurred, as well as part of Coldstream.
UPDATE: 9:18 a.m.
The number of affected customers has been re-reported as 2,133 for residents west of Kalamalka Lake Road and south of Rising View Way.
Crews are onsite and the cause still remains under investigation.
The outage map shows another 285 customers are without power east of 34th Street and south of Hwy. 6.
Another 34 are left in the dark due to a downed wire in the 3900 block of 27th Avenue.
ORIGINAL:
More than 4,600 residents in Vernon remain without power this morning.
According to B.C. Hydro, the power went out at 6:23 a.m. and affects are large swath of the city west of Westside Road.
Initial reports indicated more than 8,000 residents were without power, however that number was revised by BC Hydro at 9 a.m.
While utility provider is investigating the cause, a photo shared online showed a transformer on fire. The photo was taken on 29th Street near the cadet camp.
There is no estimated time for when the power will be restored.
READ MORE: Body of missing woman found in Okanagan
More to come.