Madison Erhardt
UPDATE: 4:50 p.m.
The Nohomin Creek forest fire continues to grow in size.
As of Sunday afternoon, Kamoleops Fire Center Nicole Bonnett said the fire had reached 1,700 acres, but is expected to grow in the next few hours.
“There will definitely be some growth after today, right on the west flank, with the rising of the cloud cover and it’s starting to warm up a bit. There’s been a change in wind direction and, for therefore, the west flank that was burning in the hills is in a very steep inoperable terrain, so we have not been able to put people there because it poses a very significant security risk and, therefore, this area. become more active this afternoon, “Bonnett said.
Bonnett says crews are making great strides on the north and south flanks.
The fire broke out Thursday afternoon and was estimated to have grown to about 800 acres on Friday morning.
The fire burns on the west side of the Fraser River.
During a press conference on Friday afternoon, Lytton First Nation Deputy Chief John Haugen said the gang was aware that several structures had been destroyed by the fire.
On Sunday, BC Wildfire Service told Castanet that growth has been observed upward on the west flank, away from the most populated areas.
A total of four 21-person teams, five three-person initial attack teams, 19 Lytton First Nation firefighters, an incident management team, structure protection personnel, four water bidders, eight helicopters and other operational and support personnel continue to fight the fire. .
“We are still adding and evaluating resources based on fire activity,” Bonnett added.
Several houses remain on evacuation alert.
The houses of Nohomeen IR 13, Papyum IR 27, 27A, Lytton IR 27B, Papyum Graveyard 27C and Stryen remain evacuated.
BCWS says assessments and triage protection of the structure are still ongoing.
“We’ll have the same night crew tonight: the Lytton First Nation 10-person crew and the BC Wildfire initial attack crew.”
UPDATE: 2:36 p.m.
With busy airspace expected over the Nohomin Creek forest fire, the BC Wildfire Service has issued a reminder that it is illegal to operate drones in restricted airspace.
On Sunday afternoon, a BCWS fire intelligence officer said there were eight helicopters in the air helping to fight the 1,700-hectare fire, and that two more were expected later.
“It will be a very busy airspace, and we just want to get that message out early as a precaution,” BCWS said.
In a post on social media, the BC Wildfire Service said it is forbidden to use drones in the airspace over the Nohomin Creek forest fire, including five nautical miles around the fire and up to 3,000 feet vertically.
“If a drone or other aircraft collides with a firefighting aircraft, the consequences could be fatal,” the publication said.
“Any aircraft within a restricted airspace may slow down or shut down aerial firefighting efforts and delay or stop general firefighting operations.”
To operate a drone or other aircraft that illegally enter the airspace due to forest fires, contact the RCMP or CrimeStoppers.
UPDATE: 12:40 p.m.
The Nohomin Creek fire is now estimated at 1,700 acres.
The latest update from the BC Wildfire Service notes that upward growth has been observed on the west flank, far from the most populated areas.
The number of firefighting personnel has increased to four 21-person teams, five three-person initial attack teams, as well as 19 Lytton First Nation firefighters, an incident management team, protection personnel of the structure, four water tenders, eight helicopters and other operational and support personnel.
UPDATE: 10:05 h
Temperatures are expected to rise again in the Lytton area on Sunday, with gusts of up to 40 km / h in the afternoon.
Lower temperatures and higher relative humidity during the night caused Nohomin Creek’s fire behavior to drop to range 1 and 2 overnight, but temperatures are expected to rise until Sunday in the mid-20s. There are also traces of rain in the forecast, but the BC forest fire service does not expect it to have an impact on the fire.
“On the south flank, crews will continue their work from yesterday by establishing a water supply system as they continue to climb uphill. Teams are also working to secure a portion of the edge of the fire adjacent to Stryen Creek to prevent the fire is advancing on the south side of the Stein Valley. They will also continue to detect and clean up properties along the Fraser River, “the BCWS said in its update Sunday morning.
“On the north flank, crews will continue with direct attack methods working from the Fraser River to the water lines. From there they will continue the direct attack on the mountains as long as it is safe to do so. The teams will also continue. exploring a contingency line for a fuel-free two-drain construction north of the head of the fire “.
Eight helicopters continue to work on the fire, providing bucket support to ground crews, and tanker aircraft will be used as needed.
The fire has forced the closure of Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park.
The houses of Nohomeen IR 13, Papyum IR 27, 27A, Lytton IR 27B, Papyum Graveyard 27C and Stryen remain evacuated.
BCWS says assessments and triage protection of the structure are still ongoing.
ORIGINAL: 6:40 p.m.
Fire activity was kept low overnight in the Nohomin Creek forest fire near Lytton.
Thirteen firefighters, including 10 Lytton First Nation firefighters, worked through the night, monitoring hot spots and making sure buildings remained protected.
BC’s forest fire service continues to estimate the size of the large fire at about 1,500 acres, but they hope to get it more accurate soon.
During the night, temperatures dropped to teenagers and relative humidity rose to 70%, keeping the fire behavior low.
“At the end of the July 16 daytime operational period, crews on the southern flank of the fire were able to restore two heliports used in a previous forest fire,” the BCWS said in an update.
“In the north, crews began exploring a contingency line for the construction without fuel two drains north of the head of the fire.”
Evacuation orders remain in effect for Nohomeen IR 13, Papyum IRs 27, 27A, Lytton IR 27B, Papyum Graveyard 27C, Stryen IR 9 (west of the Stein River), while evacuation alerts are available for Stryen IR 9 and Lytton IR 9A.
On Sunday, three 21-person teams, four three-person initial attack teams and 19 Lytton First Nation firefighters will work on the fire, for a total of 94 people. In addition, three water tenders and eight helicopters support ground equipment.
Castanet will have more information on the fire as it becomes available.