Generators allow residents to return to Pukatawagan

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This article was published 17/08/2022 (1135 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new power supply will make it possible for forest fire evacuees to return to Pukatawagan.

Manitoba Hydro has installed two large industrial generators to bring power back to the area after 77 poles on the power line were damaged by a wildfire in July.

“Installing the generators means that essential services — such as health, water and sewer, service to our homes, access to the outside world through internet services and other media — are available again,” Lorna Bighetty, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation Chief, said in a release. “We will rest at night and rise in the morning knowing that our families are safe.”

The fire forced the evacuation of approximately 2,000 residents and while it damaged power lines, the rail line into the community remained intact, allowing Manitoba Hydro to ship in the two large generators to restore power temporarily.

“A lot of people worked really hard to make this happen,” said Cyril Patterson, Manitoba Hydro’s director of rural operations. “There’s lots left to do out there, but we’re happy community members can go home while we finish the job.”

The 1,500 kV generators will be continuously monitored and refuelled while crews work to fix the hydro poles.

Crews will work on setting poles in and around steep cliffs, marsh and rock. Many of the material required to restore power, including poles, spools of power lines, insulators, guy wires, specialized vehicles, transformers and fuel arrived in the community on the same train as the generators.

Helicopters will be used to fly equipment and crews to the fire-damaged areas where the lines will be fixed.

The generators will remain in place until repairs to the power lines are completed.

bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca