Photo: Darren Metcalf

Transformer fire in Midway B.C.

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Photo: Darren Metcalf Photo: Darren Metcalf Photo: Darren Metcalf Photo: Contributed

UPDATE 5:10 p.m.

FortisBC says they hope to have power restored to the area by midnight.

"Right now, our crews are working to clear the damage and put a temporary transformer in place," said utility spokesperson Nicole Brown.

"Customers in the area may experience intermittent outages while crews safely complete this work. We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. For updates, people can also visit our outage map at fortisbc.com/outages."

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.

FortisBC has now restored power to most of its customers between Rock Creek and Greenwood B.C. after a fire in Midway knocked out power to about 1,000 customers Tuesday morning.

Power was knocked out by a transformer fire in Midway that started at 6:50 a.m. FortisBC spokesperson Nicole Brown tells Castanet, "the fire is now out and we’ve restored power to all but 340 customers."

Brown says crews from the Okanagan and Castlegar are on the way to help the Grand Forks team. Customers can also find updates at fortisbc.com/outages.

It's not clear when the remaining 340 customers still without power will have their power restored, "right now, we’re working closely with fire officials to assess the damage, determine the best way to restore power to the remaining customers and make repairs," said Brown.

ORIGINAL 9:00 a.m.

Power was knocked out in parts of southern British Columbia Tuesday morning after a transformer fire broke out near 800 Murray Street in Midway.

The transformer fire initially knocked out power from Rock Creek through to Greenwood, but much of the power in that area has now been restored.

Darren Metcalf owns Pourboy Mechanical in Midway and tells Castanet that the transformer across the street from his shop caught fire at approximately 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"The substation caught on fire and they said it was going to be all day before the power in Midway is back on," Metcalf says.

As of 8:50 a.m. there are still 350 FortisBC customers without power in Midway and that situation is likely to remain until the end of the day.

"Fortis BC and the fire department are both on the scene and they say it will be all day for sure," Metcalf says.

Castanet has reached out to FortisBC for more information.

Photo: FortisBC

Area of power outage.