Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
Fortis BC area map of affected customers (Image Credit: FORTIS BC)
By Vernon Matters Staff
Natural Gas Outage

UPDATE: Gas outage being resolved for thousands in Lake Country, North Kelowna

Apr 16, 2026 | 11:10 AM

Natural gas service was being restored to about 6,200 customers in Lake Country and North Kelowna following a major outage.

FortisBC said crews needed to work through a multi-step process to bring service back online, and were still in the first step of shutting off all gas meters Thursday, followed by restoring pressure to the system.

Technicians will then returned to relight appliances at homes and businesses across the affected areas.

Additional crews from other communities were also been tasked with assisting with the restoration effort, with the utility provider saying it expected to have service restored for the majority of customers by Sunday.

Central Okanagan Emergency Management activated its Emergency Operations Centre at Level 1 during the outage and opened a warming centre at the Oyama Community Club for affected residents.

T-bone Crashes
Two collisions on 34th St. within 24 hours
1h ago
Toxic Drug Crisis
No Vernon fatal overdoses in February, 115 across B.C.
8h ago
Investigation Ongoing
Arrest made in vandalism investigation
22h ago

Officials had warned people not to use outdoor heating or cooking equipment indoors, including barbecues, propane stoves, camping stoves, patio heaters and generators, due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.

“We recognize how disruptive this outage is for customers and appreciate everyone’s patience as crews work through the required steps to safely restore gas service,” a FortisBC representative told Vernon Matters in an email.

The cause of the outage was still undetermined as of time of publication.

More information is available at fortisbc.com/safety and coemergency.ca.

by Vernon Matters Staff
View Comments

Other Matters

T-bone Crashes
Two collisions on 34th St. within 24 hours
A downtown Vernon road was the scene of two collisions over a short period of time.The first crash occurred around 4 p.m. Wednesday, at 34th Street and Coldstream Avenue behind the Sun Valley Centre.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said a vehicle was travelling on 34th St. when it collided with another vehicle that pulled ou...
1h ago
Read More
Fueling Up For Charity
Beneficiaries sought for Fuel Good Day 2026
Armstrong Regional Co-op is once again ready to help local groups with a funding boost.The company (ARC) is running its Fuel Good Day on September 15, which will see 10 cents from every litre of fuel sold at participating stations go to support a local non-profit or charity.Each market with an ARC station will be selec...
2h ago
Read More
Natural Gas Outage
UPDATE: Gas outage being resolved for thousands in Lake Country, North Kelowna
Natural gas service was being restored to about 6,200 customers in Lake Country and North Kelowna following a major outage.FortisBC said crews needed to work through a multi-step process to bring service back online, and were still in the first step of shutting off all gas meters Thursday, followed by restoring pressur...
3h ago
Read More
Rockets refuse to fold
Kelowna Rockets force game five in thrilling OT win
Were you not entertained?On a night where their season teetered on the brink, the Kelowna Rockets delivered their most dramatic response of the year, maybe their most meaningful in years.Facing elimination Wednesday night at Prospera Place, the Rockets erased a 3-0 deficit after 40 minutes and stormed back for a stunni...
3h ago
Read More
$1.1 billion budget
Kelowna budget set for final approval
Kelowna City Council will have its final kick at the can for its 2026 budget on Monday, which features a 4.4 per cent tax increase.The $ 1.1 billion budget is guided by six community-driven priorities: crime and safety, transportation, homelessness, affordable housing, agriculture and environment, and the economy.Eleve...
8h ago
Read More
Toxic Drug Crisis
No Vernon fatal overdoses in February, 115 across B.C.
Vernon had a unique month with no illicit drug deaths recorded over the course of all of February.That's according to the B.C. Coroners Service, which said preliminary findings did not show any deaths in the North Okanagan city after seeing three such fatalities in January.The Coroners Service did record four fatal ove...
8h ago
Read More
Expanding energy
New West K transmission line: preferred route
BC Hydro has updated West Kelowna City Council on long terms plans for an additional key power transmission line.Preliminary design of the line's route and approvals will take two more years.Public consultation has shown opposition to visual impacts that would be caused by overhead pylons, so underground lines are favo...
21h ago
Read More
Investigation Ongoing
Arrest made in vandalism investigation
Police have arrested a person believed to be linked to a string of vandalism.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said a series of property damage incidents involving breaking glass and other vandalism had occurred at Vernon businesses over the past several weeks, and the investigation into these crimes resulted in police identi...
22h ago
Read More
Spring Reopen
Kelowna Rail Trail set to reopen in North End this spring
A section of the Rail Trail in the city's North End, closed since March 2025, is set to reopen this spring.The City of Kelowna says reopening the corridor will require adjustments to its Temporary Outdoor Sheltering site on Weddell Place so the trail can be fully restored for walkers and cyclists.Preparatory work is al...
23h ago
Read More

What Matters

T-bone Crashes
Two collisions on 34th St. within 24 hours
1h ago
Toxic Drug Crisis
No Vernon fatal overdoses in February, 115 across B.C.
8h ago
Investigation Ongoing
Arrest made in vandalism investigation
22h ago
Criminality Not Ruled Out
Death at Winter Carnival office considered 'suspicious', police ask for public assistance
Apr 15, 2026
207 km/h
Coldstream man clocked at nearly double the speed limit on Highway 97C
Apr 15, 2026