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Storm knocks out power, uproots trees

Wind-packed storm in Kelowna causes havoc, downing power lines and trees
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An uprooted tree on a residential property on Tartan Road in Rutland. -Image: Carli Berry/Capital News

A storm blew through the city on Tuesday, causing power outages, knocking down power lines and dozens of trees in several areas of Kelowna.

Emergency and maintenance crews were busy responding to reports of downed lines and trees in the McCurdy Road area, among many others, including in East Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country.

McCurdy Road, after Tartan Road, was completely blocked off for a time due to fallen trees.

Jennifer Ferguson, a resident of Tartan Road, was at home for the onset of the storm and the winds that tore out a large pine tree in her back yard.

“We heard a lot of huge wind and we debated taking our net off our trampoline and then we just heard shutters going back and forth like they were going to rip off, sounded like it was going to blow down something,” Ferguson said.

“We went out back and our whole tree was uprooted. I’m worried about it breaking the fence but not hitting the house.”

Fortis was also busy responding to calls. So many came in that the company was backed up due to the sheer volume of power outages across the city.

There were also reports of at least 10 trees knocked down by the wind storm at Ben Lee Park in Rutland.

On McPhee Street, a light pole knocked down and a fallen tree was blocking the road. The tree has since been removed and as of 4 p.m., McPhee was reopened to traffic.

There are no reports of injuries.

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A downed street light on McPhee Street in Kelowna. -Image: Carli Berry
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A downed 20-year-old pine tree today in Lake Country. -Image: Kayla Robson
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An uprooted tree in Ben Lee Park. -Image: Carli Berry