Fire near Lytton destroys homes
A wildfire just west of Lytton has burned at least half a dozen homes, but is spreading in the opposite direction of the village, officials said Friday.
John Haugen, deputy chief of the Lytton First Nation, said conditions are challenging, a day after the blaze broke out nearly two kilometres northwest of Lytton on the other side of the Fraser River.
“It’s been really daunting. Sometimes there’s no power here and we’re running out of water on the east side of the Fraser River,” Haugen said.
A ferry that crosses the river is out of service due to high water levels, making it difficult to move resources toward the fire on the west side, he said.
The blaze comes just over a year after a ferocious wildfire scorched the same region, levelling the town centre and displacing many residents who have yet to return home.
It has burned at least 15 square kilometres since it broke out Thursday and is spreading in steep terrain on its western flank, the B.C. Wildfire Service said. About 80 firefighters are on scene. The Lytton First Nation and Thompson-Nicola Regional District have issued evacuation orders and alerts for dozens of properties on the western side of the river. Despite some initial communication challenges unrelated to the fire, cell service has been restored and Haugen said he believes all residents are aware of the situation. At least six residential structures have been lost, and officials are trying to contact affected residents.
“It’s devastating, so we have to be mindful of how we approach them and confirm those losses,” Haugen said.