The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Saw Creek wildfire south of Lytton is spreading rapidly.
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Some parts of the Village of Lytton and nearby areas are under an evacuation order as of midnight on Friday as an out-of-control wildfire continues to burn in the area.
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Evacuees can report to the Lytton First Nation Battlefield Community Hall for shelter.
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Up-to-date information can be found at emergency info B.C., the Thompson-Nicola Regional District emergency services dashboard.
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As of late Friday, all properties east of Highway 1 within village boundaries, including Ponderosa Heights, had been placed under an evacuation order.
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Anyone in the area was told to leave immediately.
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The evacuation orders issued earlier for properties east of the Highway 1 corridor remains in effect.
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“If you have been evacuated and have safe accommodations with friends or family, please travel safely to those locations and register at ess.gov.bc.ca,” the Village of Lytton advised Friday night. “Hotel rooms are in short supply in Kamloops, Merritt and Lillooet.”
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Those without safe accommodations can report to the reception centre at McArthur Island Sport and Events Centre, 1655 Island Parkway in Kamloops.
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Several other areas — including parts of the Village of Lytton and the Lytton First Nation — remain on evacuation alert, and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has declared a state of emergency.
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Just before midnight on June 19, the Village of Lytton also issued a boil water notice due to the fire’s impact on the local water system.
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As of Friday night, Highway 1 was closed between Cottonwood Road and Airport Road for 116 kilometres, according to Drive B.C. Drivers are advised to use Highway 5 and Highway 97C as alternative routes.
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B.C. Hydro also reported major power outages in the area, with 840 households without power.
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Firefighters and firefighting equipment from some municipal fire departments, including Clearwater Village, Barriere and Chilliwack, were en route to Lytton to assist the B.C. Wildfire Service crews.
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In one fortunate turn of events, a fire crew from Barriere travelling to assist at Lytton came across a separate fire near Ashcroft, about 150 kilometres away from their destination, as they drove past around 9 p.m. on Friday.
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Ashcroft Fire Rescue posted on social media on Friday night: “Ashcroft and area residents are no strangers to wildfire and given the winds and high temps of the day, this particular fire had the potential to be something terrible. Two RCMP officers said the fire grew alarmingly fast and we’re thankful for the fire crews’ rapid extinguishment.”
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On social media, Premier David Eby offered his thanks to the fire crews and first responders working to get the blaze under control and support evacuees, and said “all our thoughts are with the people of Lytton and surrounding communities who have already been through so much.”
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In 2021, a wildfire began south of Lytton and destroyed much of the village. Two people died.
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With files from Julia Peterson
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