Kelowna power outage affects 20,000 customers

Approximately 20,000 FortisBC customers in Kelowna experienced a brief power outage just after 11 a.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026. The outage, which lasted roughly five seconds, was caused by a tripped transmission line that automatically re-closed to restore power.

The interruption triggered numerous fire alarm activations across the city, including at the Memorial Arena, Hadgraft Manor, and the Parkinson Recreation Centre. At the Parkinson Recreation Centre, the building was briefly evacuated and a hazmat team was called to the scene, though occupants were permitted to return after approximately 20 minutes.

Kelowna Fire Department officials stated that the alarms were a common result of power interruptions and system resets. FortisBC crews are currently investigating the cause of the transmission line trip.