Fortis B.C. substation near Oliver targeted by vandals

OLIVER – Someone has twice vandalized a Fortis B.C. substation near Oliver in the last few weeks causing power outages in the area.

RCMP say the incidents of willful damage happened at about 11:30 a.m., March 23 and again around 12:30 p.m. on April 2.

In both cases, someone threw a metal pole, with metal wiring attached to it, over the fence and onto high voltage electrical wires at the substation causing a power outage, according to a RCMP media release.

“The risk of harm to the person or persons responsible in doing such mischief would certainly result in serious injury or death should they come in contact with electrical system through the act,” Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says in the release.

Moskaluk says investigators haven’t ruled out links to other recent incidents of willful damage to infrastructure in the Oliver area.

In February, someone knocked down a Telus cell tower on Fairview Mountain.

Police are actively investigating these incidents and are asking anyone with information regarding these crimes to contact the Oliver RCMP at 250-485-6220 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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