Officials: Trees cut to fall on power lines

BONNERS FERRY — Authorities are investigating an allegedly deliberate attempt take down power lines in the Naples area.

Idaho State Police reportedly are involved with the investigation, but did not return a telephone call before presstime.

South Boundary Fire District at 4 p.m. Sept. 3 was called to a pullout on Highway 95 north of Twenty Mile junction, said SBFD Chief Tony Rohrwasser.

“When we got there, we found there were two trees laying down,” Rohrwasser said.

“One was on power lines and had a broken cross brace.”

It’s believed the trees had been cut so they would fall on the powerlines, he said.

“They were cut about three-quarters of a the way through the back side,” Rohrwasser said. “One missed and one was laying on the lines.”

A power outage was reported in the area at the same time.

Northern Lights did not want to comment on the number of people without electricity or how long the outage lasted.

“Everything is under investigation,” said Elissa Glassman, communication director with Northern Light. “When things are resolved, we will furnish that.”