BC Hydro says if everything goes well, power should be fully restored in the North Shuswap and in the Adams Lake area by this coming week.

Hydro spokesperson Susan Edgell says their last push is being made around Adams Lake, with expectations that the work there should be done in the next few days.

“The good news is power-wise 95 per cent of customers at the Shuswap have had their power returned now,” Edgell said on the NL Noon Report. “Just a small number remain without power, and we hope to have those folks restored early next week.”

The main push for Hydro is power pole replacement along Holding Road which services the area around Adams Lake. That road will be shutdown during between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. until power is fully restored.

“Our crews are really working hard this weekend on that area in order to restore it,” Edgell said. “What we are really asking from the public is continued patience as our crews are still very much in the area, making the best of getting things cleaned up.”

When the Bush Creek East fire tore through the region three weeks ago, on August 18, it took out about 22 kilometers of power lines as well as 430 poles and 52 pieces of other equipment, leaving thousands of people in the dark.

A large number of those customers on the northeast side of Shuswap Lake – in St. Ives and Anglemont – were never forced from their homes.

Edgell also says while the power should be back early next week, there will still be longer-term repairs needed.

“The areas where the public are though is very safe,” she said. “There are no live wires on the ground, there is nothing for them to worry about. Everything has been cleaned up beautifully.”