Power shutoff initiative creating wave of fear, says Princeton, B.C. mayor – Okanagan [Video]

Concerns are growing over a plan to shut off power in nearly a dozen communities across the Similkameen and Kootenay-Boundary regions of British Columbia to reduce wildfire risk.

FortisBC is launching a new initiative it calls the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

The power giant says it will initiate the PSPS during extreme weather such as extreme heat and powerful wind events to reduce the chance of trees and branches making contact with live powerlines and igniting fires.

However, the initiative has many people, including residents, business owners in affected communities and local governments, expressing some serious concerns.

Some of those concerns were brought up on Thursday at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen’s (RDOS) board meeting, where Fortis representatives outlined the plan.

“I’m sorry. It’s not acceptable,” Princeton mayor Spencer Coyne told Fortis at the RDOS meeting.

“When it’s 40-plus degrees out, people are going to start dying because they …