One week ago to the day, a CP grain train derailed near Field knocking power out to the entire region 91裸聊视频� leaving residents in the dark but shedding light on an unknown generator issue.
The incident happened just before 2 p.m. on Jan. 26. There were no injuries as a result of the derailment, according to CP Rail.
Crews and equipment were immediately dispatched to the crash site. However, the Town of Field was without power and forced to run on an emergency back up battery.
BC Hydro encouraged residents to reduce their energy consumption to conserve battery supply.
The town91裸聊视频檚 battery, which was installed in 2013, can typically provide power 20 to 24 hours. However, Kathryn Cameron of the Field Recreation Advisory Association (FRAA) told the Golden Star the battery was operating at about 50 per cent capacity and was only able to provide power for approximately 10 to 12 hours, leaving Field without power overnight.
BC Hydro has looked at the battery, with Cameron stating that some parts will need to be replaced in order to restore full capacity, which she says could take up to four months.
Power was restored about 7 a.m. Jan. 27.
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91裸聊视频淭he reaction in town was that it was a horrible situation91裸聊视频o one likes a derailment, but CP got this one cleaned up and we got our power back pretty quickly,91裸聊视频� said Cameron.
91裸聊视频淏C Hydro crews worked through the night, replacing power poles and power lines in the winter with the frozen ground is no easy task.91裸聊视频�
During the outage, Field Fire and Rescue turned the Field Hall into an emergency warming station, offering food and shelter to those in need of it. An estimated 11 people used the shelter, with no one opting to stay overnight.
Many in town are equipped with emergency generators and propane stoves for situations such as this, Cameron said.
Power outages can happen in Field due to inclement weather, as the wires that bring power to the community are above ground allowing for debris to easily fall onto the line.
Cameron explained that the FRAA is lobbying to have the wires moved underground to prevent future outages, stating the proposed twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway through Yoho National Park could be the perfect time to do this.
There have been multiple reported train derailments in Field over the past few years, most notably in February 2019, when a derailment on the Field hill took the lives of three CP workers.
Cameron said the effects of the 2019 derailment can still be felt by some in the community.
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91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 heartbreaking, whether there91裸聊视频檚 a relationship or not with those involved,91裸聊视频� said Cameron.
Field Fire and Rescue, BC Ambulance and Parks Canada visitor safety were all on the scene to assess the damage of the crash, with Cameron stating the experience had an impact on those people.
91裸聊视频淚f there are lots of derailments you have to ask what91裸聊视频檚 causing this,91裸聊视频� said Cameron.
91裸聊视频淐P has to comply with safety regulations and they have some fairly strict standards to uphold and sometimes it91裸聊视频檚 beyond CP91裸聊视频檚 control and sometimes it91裸聊视频檚 not, as we know from 2019 and what the Transportation Safety Board had to say.91裸聊视频�
Cameron said it was lucky that the train involved in last week91裸聊视频檚 derailment and the one in 2019 were transporting grain and not hazardous materials, such as oil.
Cameron also said the FRAA has what she calls a 91裸聊视频渞ealistic91裸聊视频� relationship with CP in Field, stating that she knows it has its priorities to keep in mind, but that CP does work with the communities that it operates within.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not a difficult or cantankerous relationship, it91裸聊视频檚 realistic, we91裸聊视频檙e a tiny town along the mainline and we have a community connect line and they91裸聊视频檙e fairly responsive to it.91裸聊视频�
As for the cause of the derailment on Jan. 26, CP is still investigating.
