Heavy wind downs trees, closing roads and knocking out power in Prince George, B.C., and region

Wind gusts recorded at more than 100 km/h in some regions caused chaos across Prince George, B.C., and the wider Central Interior on Friday night as downed trees knocked out power lines and closed roads. Roughly 23,000 customers in the region, including 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel and Vanderhoof, were left in the dark due to the damage. At one point, about one-third of the the city of Prince George was powerless, B.C. Hydro said.

Social media was flooded with photos of the damage, which included trees on homes and, in one instance, a traffic light gone from its location. Volunteer firefighting groups in rural neighbourhoods urged residents to stay inside as they responded to multiple emergencies, including several small fires sparked by damaged power lines. "Please stay clear of fallen power lines and anything touching them. Treat all downed lines as live," warned the District of Vanderhoof.

B.C. Hydro urged people to stay at least 10 metres away (roughly the length of a bus) from any downed or sagging power lines and to report them to 911. The power provider asked for patience as crews worked to clear up the damage and restore service in challenging conditions. Environment Canada data showed ongoing gusts of between 94 and 102 km/h from 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time, with sustained wind speeds of 41 to 61 km/h.