The heart of Downtown Squamish was under billowing smoke while lights went dark from Cleveland Avenue to Garibaldi Way after a cement truck took down a hydro pole Monday (July 7).At midday, a local cement pumper truck attempting to turn around on Loggers Lane near Hunter Place snagged three guidewires holding a hydro pole in place."As he drove forward, the top of the pole snapped and several wires came down over other wires causing sparking and subsequent brush fire and he pulled forward out of harm's way," said RCMP Cpl. Dave Ritchie. "It was an unfortunate accident. People were speculating he must've had his boom up, but it was none of that. We could tell by the marks on the gravel that he had backed up and then pulled forward and hooked the guide wires."Three 60,000-volt wires came down on top of other wires, causing sparks and setting nearby dry brush on fire. "The bush and treed berm that basically divides Loggers Lane from a subdivision, it burned through and got into some stumps that were there between Hunter Place and Pemberton," said Fire Rescue Chief Ray Saurette.Fire Rescue members were soon at the scene, but had to wait for BC Hydro crews to ensure power was no longer coursing through the wires."We don't take any action because when you start spraying waterthe wires can energize the ground, and if you actually take large enough steps, and you're in the potential zone, you can actually electrocute yourself," said Saurette.It took about 30 minutes for hydro to arrive, and the fire was extinguished shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, traffic was stopped at Buckley and Cleveland, and Highway 99 drivers had to employ four-way stop procedures at the two affected intersections."For the most part, drivers were very good and went to the four-way stop situation," said Ritchie. "There were a few people who sped through, but for the most part I was impressed watching while controlling another intersection -the traffic was very good at switching over."Downtown and Garibaldi Estates homes and businesses were also affected - some experienced a brief electrical outage while others were out for about an hour and a half, according to Ritchie.
