Power “blips” are quite common for those residents on the grid at Lac des Roches where the eastern hydro line along Highway 24 ends. Despite the installation of smart meters, residents must continue to be diligent when it comes to identifying and reporting power abnormalities and outages. A healthy looking spruce tree fell on the hydro lines at the east end of Boultbee Road early in the evening on July 17. The branches cause an electrical arc which tripped the breaker for the line and ignited the spruce tree. The ensuing tree fire alarmed nearby witnesses who called 911. Volunteer firefighters responded but the fire was isolated to the tree top, high above the ground which did not spread to the surrounding woods. A BC Hydro crew removed the tree, repaired the broken line and restored power to the neighbourhood late that night. A Telus lineman repaired the stretched telephone cable the following day.
