Taylor MacDonald with the Kamloops Fire Station said the fire was still burning at a “moderate rate” as of 8 p.m. Thursday. “This incident is still classified as out of control and 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 warning for 31 additional properties north of the fire, asking people to be ready to leave immediately. 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; Papyum Graveyard 27C; and Stryen Indian Reserve 9, west of the Stein River. Multiple ground crews, helicopters and aerial tankers have been deployed to try to control the spread of the fire. The TNRD Emergency Operations Center has issued an evacuation order for approximately 24 properties northwest of Lytton on the west side of the Fraser River due to the Nohomin Creek Fire. Details: pic.twitter.com/H4AS9Z5mCW —@TNRD The fire is located on the west side of the Fraser River, across from the village of Lytton which was destroyed by a raging wildfire just over a year ago. Homes and property on the west coast, part of the Lytton First Nation reserve, were largely spared any damage at the time. MacDonald said ground crews would remain at the scene overnight and an additional 40 firefighters and personnel were expected Friday morning. “Crews continue to work on the ground and help protect structures on the south and east sides of the fire,” he said. “We also have an incident management team that has been deployed and will be taking over in the coming days.” According to BCWS, the Nohonim Creek Fire broke out at 12:45 p.m., and the cause of the fire is unknown. Earlier photos of this latest fire show a large plume of smoke rising from land, with structures in the fire’s path. The Lytton Ferry, currently out of service due to the high flows of the Fraser River, is nearby. Officials said the fire was “being affected by gusty winds” after it started Thursday afternoon. UPDATE: H pic.twitter.com/acZpTJBolb —@BCGovFireInfo Road access to the area is limited. West Coast residents have been crossing the Fraser River on foot, over a CN rail bridge, for weeks. The BC Hydro website says power to the township of Lytton has been out since 1:16 p.m. Crews are expected to arrive at 5:15 p.m. There are currently 112 people without power.
“The events of 2021… are at the forefront of our minds”
In a briefing by local and provincial officials at 4:15 p.m., John Haugen, deputy chief of the Lytton First Nation, thanked authorities and residents for their quick response to the fire. “We have three elders that are in the direct line of this fire and we are working to make sure they are safe and that we can put the fire out as quickly as possible,” Haugen said. “We’re experiencing another fire… in the Hell’s Gate area. We have to be prepared for a lot of things in a very short period of time,” he said.
Because Lytton, BC, is one of the hottest places in Canada
Johanna Wagstaffe explains how the geography of Lytton causes the village’s temperature to exceed 30C, on average, 80 times during the summer. Rob Schweitzer, director of fire station operations in Kamloops, said there are about 54 crew members on the ground and the RCMP and local fire department also responded to the fire. “The events of 2021 and the impact on the village 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 primary focus is the safety of the crews and residents affected at this time.”
“Prepare yourself and your family”
Peter Brock, executive director of regional operations for Emergency Management BC said he has heard unconfirmed reports that “three structures may be lost.” Brock said emergency support, including food, shelter and clothing, will be provided to those ordered to evacuate for up to 72 hours. “The most important thing the public can do right now is to prepare yourself and your family for potential wildfires in your areas,” Brock said.
