Wildfires in eastern Manitoba are causing significant damage to powerlines, resulting in power outages.
Peter Chura, a media relations officer with Manitba Hydro, says about 500 homes were without power as of Thursday morning due to blazes in the area.
"It's still a little bit difficult to put in a time of restoration on that because we're just accessing the areas where we've seen a lit of damage," he says, noting that damage includes burnt and fallen poles, powerlines, transformers, and other equipment.
The bulk of the damage has so far been in Lac du Bonnet, he says, so efforts are zeroed in there.
"We have engineering teams in there right now sketching out how we're going to fix and replace all that infrastructure. It is extensive damage," Chura says.
The utility says construction crews in Lac du Bonnet have also begun work on Wendigo Road.
However, he says the situation is fluid, and there are many more fires that the crown corporation is monitoring in the province, including in the Rural Municipality of Piney.
"We're seeing some damage to poles in those areas. Nothing that's putting out power at this point, but we're patrolling those lines by helicopter and keeping track of damage that we see happening to repair when we get a chance to," Chura says.
The utility has various emergency response teams that respond to situations as they arise, he says. For example helping to evacuate generating stations in Pointe du Bois and Slave Falls.
While fires are ongoing, Chura asks residents to obey evacuation orders, and if a damaged Manitoba Hydro equipment, downed poles or lines are seen, to stay at least 10 meters back and call 9-1-1.
Chura also asks for patience while they try to get power back on for those that have lost it.
"In some cases, it's very difficult to know what a restoration time is going to be because it's not until we actually start picking up the pieces and repairing the damage, that we really have an idea of how complex the repair job is going to be," he says.
"We're getting to it all as as quickly as we can."