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Susbstation incident near Chilliwack under control

Substation incident near Chilliwack under control: power restored to half of affected customers; fire crews on site

Vancouver, BC (12:00 p.m.) – BC Hydro confirms that power is in the process of being restored and a fire is being brought under control following a transformer incident this morning at its Atchelitz substation just east of Chilliwack.

Shortly after 9:00 a.m. a transformer fire occurred and in order to control the fire safely, BC Hydro de-energized the substation which resulted in the disruption of power to customers in the Chilliwack, Atchelitz and Sumas areas. The cause of the fire is unconfirmed and will be investigated. Fire crews are on site managing the fire. A spill response team is en route and an environmental assessment team will be investigating.

Employees that were in the substation have been accounted for and confirmed safe. One person has been transported to hospital as a precautionary measure.

Power for most Chilliwack customers was restored quickly. Customers in the Atchelitz and Sumas areas remain without power and service will be restored as quickly as possible.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Background:

The Atchelitz substation serves approximately 50,000 customers and is located on farm land just east of Chilliwack near the intersection of Lickman Road and South Sumas Road.

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For more information please contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Direct: 604-928-6468