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6 homes destroyed as out-of-control wildfire burns near Lytton, B.C., at least 80 residents evacuated

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An out-of-control wildfire 1.7 kilometres northwest of Lytton, B.C., has destroyed at least six houses,┬аsay┬аofficials, who warn that number could rise as crews continue to fight the┬аfast-growing blaze┬аthat has been burning since Thursday.

Two-dozen┬аfamilies in the area have been┬аordered evacuated from their homes. The number of residential structures burned down “could be upward of nine,” according to Lytton First Nation deputy chief John Haugen.┬а

He said officials are trying to contact affected residents. Authorities say at least 80 evacuees have been registered.

“It’s devastating,” he said,┬а“so we have to be mindful of how we approach them and confirm those losses.”

The fire is located on the west side of the Fraser River, less than two kilometres from the village that was wiped out by an aggressive┬аwildfire after a record-breaking heat wave a year ago this month.

As of 5 p.m., the fire had┬аalmost doubled in size since Friday morning, burning┬аmore than 15 square kilometres of trees and bush┬атАФ an area nearly four times the size of┬аVancouver’s Stanley Park.

Wildfire menaces Lytton, B.C., one year after deadly blaze

A wildfire is menacing Lytton, B.C., a little more than a year after the town was completely destroyed by a deadly blaze.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said┬аthe out-of-control fire is burning vigorously,┬аranked as a four and a five┬аon a six-point┬аscale measuring fire behaviour, meaning that it has “an organized flame front and a moderate to fast rate of spread.”┬а

A crew of 80 firefighters is┬аon scene, including six helicopters.

An orange-red plume of smoke behind a series of trees.
A plume of smoke rises from a wildfire just two kilometres northwest of Lytton, B.C., on Thursday, along the west shore of the Fraser River. (Submitted by Britannia Glasgow)

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy┬аsaid Friday afternoon that the wildfire,┬аnamed┬аthe┬аNohonim Creek fire, is aggressive, noting that┬аat one point on Thursday,┬аthe fire jumped the river, but firefighting crews were able to suppress it before it grew.

Homes and property on the┬аwest shore,┬аpart of the Lytton First Nation Reserve,┬аwere spared during that fire but stand closer to the current blaze.

Lytton First Nation member Britannia Glasgow had to flee the reserve last year due to┬аfire but later moved back home to┬аhelp rebuild the devastated community. She says it’s disheartening to see the wildfire now affecting the west side of Lytton.

“The west side was a place of sanctuary for the past year тАж you can go over there and see some greenery that wasn’t all black and brown,” Glasgow told host Sarah Penton on CBC’s Radio West.

Smoke is seen rising from a burning forest from the out-of-control Nohonim Creek wildfire burns 1.7 km northwest of Lytton B.C.
The out-of-control Nohonim Creek wildfire burns 1.7 km northwest of Lytton B.C. on Friday morning. (B.C. Wildfire Service/Twitter)

Glasgow also complains about what she says is a slow response from the B.C. Wildfire Service, considering how devastating last year’s wildfire was.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order Thursday for 24 addresses in the area.┬аAn┬аevacuation alert for 31 additional properties north of the fire is also in place, advising residents they need┬аto be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.┬а

The Lytton First Nation┬аalso has┬аevacuation orders┬аin place┬аfor┬аseveral reserves:┬а

  • Nohomeen Indian Reserve 23;
  • Papyum┬аIndian Reserves┬а27 and 27A;┬а
  • Lytton Indian Reserve┬а27B;
  • Papyum Graveyard 27C;
  • and Stryen Indian Reserve 9, west of Stein River.
A photo from an air tanker shows a wildfire burning less than two kilometres from Lytton, B.C., on Thursday. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

The orders affect nearly┬а150 people, but some have stayed behind.

“Most are aware that fire is in our midst, and they are cognizant that fire poses a great risk to their safety, so a lot did leave,” said John Haugen, the deputy fire chief with the Lytton First Nation.

“There are a lot that did stay and fight the fires closer to their homes. They were able to save some of the structures.”

Colman said firefighting efforts have been challenging because road access to the area is limited. West shore residents have been crossing┬аthe Fraser River by foot, over a CN rail bridge, for weeks.┬а

Why Lytton, B.C., is among the hottest places in Canada

Johanna Wagstaffe explains how LyttonтАЩs geography causes the villageтАЩs temperature to exceed 30 C, on average, 80 times during the summer.

Flooding also complicated Thursday’s┬аevacuation, with the regional district directing evacuees to take Spencer Road North to Lillooet for emergency support.

“The route south to Boston Bar on the west side of the Fraser River has been compromised due to the spring freshet, and the Lytton Ferry remains out of service due to high water,” a notice read.

The fire started around 12:45 p.m. on Thursday. Officials said flames spread quickly, fanned by gusting winds in the area.┬а

The B.C. Wildfire Service said┬аthe cause is┬аunknown.

Power for the municipality of Lytton has been out since Thursday afternoon. As of midday Friday, B.C. Hydro said a little more than 70 people were still cut off.

Pader Brach, executive director of regional operations at Emergency Management B.C., said some buildings may have already been destroyed.

“We have received reports that approximately three structures may have been lost, but this has yet to be confirmed,” he said Thursday.

Premier John Horgan said┬аhis thoughts are with people in the area.

“It’s unimaginable to face a second wildfire a year after the devastation they faced,” he wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to the crews working to keep people safe.”

Brach┬аsaid┬аemergency support, including food, lodging and clothing, will be provided to people under an evacuation order for up to 72 hours.

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