The BC Forest Fire Service says a new forest fire just 1.7 miles outside of Lytton, BC has grown to 200 acres and is now a prominent forest fire.
Taylor MacDonald, of the Kamloops Fire Center, said the fire continued to burn at a “moderate rate” at 8 p.m. Thursday.
“This incident is still classified as out of control and is showing more active fire behavior,” he said.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order for 24 addresses in the area shortly before 6:30 p.m., and later issued an evacuation alert for an additional 31 properties north of the fire, requesting that people were ready to go out in a moment.
Lytton First Nation also issued an evacuation order for several reserves: Nohomeen Indian Reserve 23; Papyum Indian Reserves 27 and 27A; Lytton Indian Reserve 27B; Cemeteries of Papyum s. 27; and Stryen Indian Reserve 9, west of the Stein River.
Several ground crews, helicopters and tanker trucks have been deployed to try to control the fire.
The TNRD Emergency Operations Center has issued an evacuation order for approximately 24 properties headed northwest of Lytton, on the west side of the Fraser River, due to the Nohomin Creek forest fire.
Details: pic.twitter.com/H4AS9Z5mCW
– @ TNRD
The fire is on the west side of the Fraser River, in front of the village of Lytton, which was destroyed by a forest fire just over a year ago. The houses and properties on the west coast, part of the Lytton First Nation Reserve, largely escaped any damage at the time.
MacDonald said ground crews would remain on the scene overnight and that 40 additional firefighters and personnel were expected Friday morning.
“Crews continue to work on the ground and are helping with the protection of the structure on the south and east flanks of the fire,” he said.
“We also have an incident management team that has been deployed and takes command in the next few days.”
According to the BCWS, the Nohonim Creek fire broke out at 12:45 p.m., and the cause of the fire is unknown.
Previous photos of this latest fire show a large column of smoke rising from the ground, with structures in the path of the fire. Lytton Ferry, currently out of service due to the high flows of the Fraser River, is nearby. Authorities said the fire was being “influenced by strong winds” after it started Thursday afternoon.
UPDATE: the service pic.twitter.com/acZpTJBolb
– @ BCGovFireInfo
Road access to the area is limited. Residents of the west coast have been crossing the Fraser River on foot, by a CN railway bridge, for weeks.
The BC Hydro website reports that electricity for Lytton Township has been depleted since 1:16 p.m. Teams are expected to arrive at 5:15 p.m. There are currently 112 people without electricity.
“The events of 2021 … are at the forefront in our minds”
In an update from local and provincial officials at 4:15 p.m., John Haugen, deputy head of the Lytton First Nation, thanked authorities and residents for their prompt response to the fire.
“We have three elders who are in the direct line of this fire and we are working to make sure they are safe and we can put out the fire as soon as possible,” Haugen said.
“We are experiencing another fire … in the Hell’s Gate area. We need to be prepared for many things in a very short time,” he said.
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Rob Schweitzer, director of operations at the fire station in Kamloops, said there were about 54 crew members on the ground and that the RCMP and the local fire department also responded to the fire.
“The events of 2021 and the impacts on the people of Lytton and the Lytton First Nation are at the forefront of our minds,” Schweitzer said.
“We ask for your respect and kindness as we report this incident. Our main goal is the safety of the crews and residents who are currently affected.”
‘Get ready for you and your family’
Peter Brock, executive director of regional operations for Emergency Management BC, said he has heard unconfirmed reports that “three structures may have been lost.”
Brock said emergency support, including food, lodging and clothing, will be provided to people under an evacuation order for up to 72 hours.
“The most important thing the public can do right now is prepare yourself and your family for any possible fire in your areas,” Brock said.