Wildfires near Lytton, B.C., prompt evacuation orders, local state of emergency

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has declared a local state of emergency for the Blue Sky Country region due to an encroaching out-of-control wildfire near Lytton, B.C.

It has also issued an evacuation order for two properties on Spencer Road South as the blaze poses "immediate danger to life." An evacuation order means those in the area are at risk and must leave immediately. 

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the Nikaia Creek wildfire is about six hectares in size as of 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday, and is one of more than 70 wildfires burning across the province. 

The fire was discovered on Monday around 8 p.m. and is currently out of control, which means it is spreading or anticipated to spread beyond its current perimeter.

The BCWS says crews, supported by firefighters from Lytton First Nation, made "good progress" overnight and they are now focused on the north and south flanks of the blaze.

The Lytton First Nation also issued an evacuation alert Monday evening for Papyum 27, Papyum 27A, Lytton 27B and Nohomeen 23 due to wildfire. An evacuation alert requires residents to be prepared to leave quickly on short notice, if necessary. 

A second wildfire, about 16 kilometres north of the Nikaia Creek wildfire on the east side of the Fraser River, has closed Highway 12 between Lillooet and Lytton, according to DriveBC.

The Izman Creek fire was 25 hectares in size as of 9:12 p.m. PT on Tuesday, and classified as "out of control" by the B.C. Wildfire Service. It grew quickly over the course of the day on Tuesday.

Just after 8:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday, the fire resulted in three properties close to the highway being put on evacuation order and nine other properties being put on evacuation alert.

'Hit too hard too many times'

Tricia Thorpe, area director for Blue Sky Country (Area I) of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said the fire near Lytton has caused a lot of stress in the community.

"It's traumatic," Thorpe said. "It happened on the fourth anniversary of the Lytton wildfire."

She noted the area west of the Fraser River, outside the village of Lytton and home to about 200 residents of Lytton First Nation and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, has also been deeply affected by a barrage of wildfires since 2021.

"They're still reeling," she said, adding that "they've been hit too hard too many times in the past few years."

Thorpe said summer has become a time of anxiety in her community.

"You watch for smoke; you watch that B.C. Wildfire Service site; you're constantly kind of a little bit on edge," she said.

"We don't have summer anymore, we have wildfire season."

Hot weather to continue

The BCWS dashboard says hot and dry weather is expected to continue this week across most of the province. 

It says northwest B.C. has cooler weather, as central and northeast B.C. are seeing warm seasonal temperatures. 

But the dashboard says southern B.C. will see very hot weather conditions, with temperatures five to 10 degrees above seasonal averages.

It says thunderstorms are also expected to increase provincewide, with lightning risk peaking Tuesday.

"Given the ongoing dry and warm conditions, there is an increase in the potential for wildfires with the risk for dry lightning," it says.

About 85 per cent of the fires burning in B.C. are believed to be caused by lightning, while 15 per cent are believed to be human-caused.

It's been four years since a fast-moving wildfire destroyed the village of Lytton and killed two people on June 30, 2021.

The fire burned down about 90 per cent of the village, as well as buildings in the nearby Lytton First Nation.

WATCH | Cause of 2021 Lytton fire unknown, police say: 

RCMP say investigation unable to find cause of 2021 Lytton fire

10 months ago

Duration 2:44

An investigation into what started the deadly 2021 fire that destroyed the town of Lytton and ripped through neighbouring Indigenous communities has reached a conclusion. As Michelle Ghoussoub reports, RCMP say the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Delays have dragged out the rebuilding process, but some residents have since returned and a few businesses have opened back up. 

The district is asking those who need emergency support services to register online at ess.gov.bc.ca or call the TNRD Emergency Operations Centre at 250-377-7188 or toll-free at 1-866-377-7188.

Those who need transportation assistance are asked to call TNRD at 250-377-7188.