Power restored after transport truck knocked out power, gas in Fort Providence, N.W.T.

Power was restored in Fort Providence, N.W.T., on Tuesday afternoonafter atransport truck had taken out multiple power poles in the community at about 12:15 p.m.Power was restored by about 5 p.m.

The incidenthadforced Big River Service Centre the only gas station along Highways 1 and 3 between Yellowknife and the Alberta border to close temporarily.

The truck was delivering groceries to Fort Providence's Northern Store when it snagged the lines, taking the power pole with it, according to Jim Thom with NorthlandUtilities.

Linda Croft, general manager of the Big River Service Station, said they were just starting to see some activity with all four pumps in use when the power went out.

"Everybody just sort of stood still for a few hours," she toldCBC's Trail's End host Lawrence Nayally.

Now, she says everything is back up and running with busy pumps and traffic again moving through.

RCMP confirmed the incident happened in the Northern Store parking lot. Cpl. Matt Halstead said that policewere on scene to assist with traffic in the area and that they don't have any reports of injuries.

The incident comes as Yellowknife residents prepare to return to the city the majority by vehicle in the coming days, three weeks after being evacuated due to a wildfire. The city's evacuation order will be lifted Wednesday at noon.