BC Wildfire Service crews respond near Lytton

LYTTON, B.C. - A fire is spreading just west of Lytton, B.C., the same community all but wiped out by a blaze last year.

BC Wildfire Service is reporting the fire is about 1.7 kilometres northwest of Lytton, on the west side of the Fraser River.

Watch the Nohomin Creek wildfire update on YouTube for more information: https://t.co/SpUcdhu89b
To learn more about this Wildfire of Note, please visit: https://t.co/IQ9Y9rNr6U

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 15, 2022

UPDATE: The #BCWildfire Service continues to respond to the Nohomin Creek wildfire (K70580). The fire has grown to 75 hectares and is now a Wildfire of Note. Lytton First Nation has implemented an Evacuation Alert and Evacuation Order for some areas. pic.twitter.com/acZpTJBolb

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 15, 2022

Rob Schweitzer, director of fire centre operations for the service, said four initial attack crews and two unit crews have responded, and helicopters and airtankers have also been dispatched.

"Crews will continue to work through the evening and overnight as required," he said during a news conference Thursday. "The RCMP and local fire department are also responding to this fire."

Schweitzer said the wildfire was first reported to the service around 12:45 p.m. Thursday and while the cause is still unknown, the fire grew to about 25 hectares in size by late afternoon.

"Gusting winds in the area this afternoon are impacting the fire behaviour and crews in the air and on the ground are seeing and observing moderate fire rates of spread," he said.

Officials provide an update on the Nohomin Creek wildfire, burning about 1.7 kilometres northwest of #Lytton. #BCWildfire https://t.co/mhdIFLakdw

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) July 14, 2022

Lytton First Nation Deputy Chief John Haugen said about nine people from his community have been evacuated so far.

"We have three elders who are in direct line of this fire and we're working to make sure that they're safe, and that we can get the fire out as soon as possible," he said.

Pader Brach, executive director of regional operations at Emergency Management BC, 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.

EComm, the 911 emergency communication operator for most of the province, said in a statement that landline and cell service is unavailable in Lytton and for the areas nearby of Boston Bar and Spences Bridge, but Brach said the outage is believed to be unrelated to the fire.

.@TELUS advising landline/cell service currently unavailable in Boston Bar, Lytton & Spences Bridge area. #TELUS techs onsite. Life-threatening emerg? Dial 911 in case service restored. No service? Head to nearest doctor/police/fire dept if able. Info @TELUSsupport. #911BC

— E-Comm 9-1-1 (@EComm911_info) July 14, 2022

A wildfire roared through Lytton on June 30, 2021, killing two people and destroying most of the village.

"The events of 2021 and the impacts to the village of Lytton and the Lytton First Nation are at the forefront in our minds. Our primary objective is the safety of the crews and the residents who are currently impacted," Schweitzer said.

"All wildfires are dynamic incidents and we will continue to provide updates as they become available."