Fortis plan to scale back wildfire threat throughout Southern Inside raises different security issues – Okanagan

FortisBC will probably be implementing a brand new initiative for the 2025 wildfire season in an effort to scale back wildfire threat.

However because the “Public Safety Power Shutoff” initiative goals to lower the prospect of wildfires, it’s elevating different security issues.

“It sounds like a good idea, you know, I still have a few questions,” mentioned Princeton mayor Spencer Coyne.

Princeton is amongst 10 communities within the Southern Inside the place the plan is being carried out for the 2025 wildfire season.

They embrace Princeton, Halfway, Greenwood, Beaverdell, Christian Valley, Westbridge, Rock Creek, Cawston, Keremeos, and Hedley.

The communities have been deemed “high-risk” for wildfires by Fortis.

The initiative will see Fortis minimize off energy within the talked about communities, if warranted,  throughout excessive climate occasions.

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“When you have very high winds, high heat, low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation, we will reach out to local emergency services and make a decision whether we need to turn off power,” mentioned Gary Toft, senior adviser of company communications with Fortis.

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The facility outage would forestall branches and bushes from falling onto reside energy traces and igniting.

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“We’re asking folks to be prepared,” Toft mentioned. “So make sure you have a backup plan in case of a power outage … for lighting, for staying cool, for preparing food. Make sure you have an emergency kit.”

Whereas nobody desires to see wildfire destruction, Fortis’ plan is being met with issues as residents may lose energy for a number of days.

A workers report offered to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB)  board on Wednesday states, “Emergency Management staff are concerned that the health and safety of residents are being put at risk.”

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The report provides, “Many locations identified as cooling centres for extreme heat events do not have backup power generation”

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“We’re talking to emergency services,” Toft mentioned. “We’re in the process of implementing this so people, people have questions, people have concerns, we want to hear that feedback, because that’s important and how we implement this.”

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Fortis will probably be holding two public data classes together with one in Greenwood (Greenwood Neighborhood Corridor)  on Could 14 and the opposite in Keremeos (Victory Corridor) on Could 15.

Each are scheduled fr0m 4 p.m. till 7 p.m.

The corporate may also maintain a digital public open home on Could 22 to supply extra data.

“After speaking with them (Fortis), they put a lot of my, you know, uneasiness at rest,” Coyne mentioned “It’s only going to be in certain circumstances, and it’s not going to be like weekly, or anything like that. It’s strictly to prevent something like California, or you know other places, from happening here.”

For extra data on the Public Security Energy Shutoff initiative or data on put together for an influence outage, you possibly can go to the FortisBC web site.

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