LYTTON, B.C. — The B.C. Wildfire Service says it is bracing for strong winds and flareups as it battles an aggressive blaze near Lytton.
Fire information officer Max Birkner says a crew of 80, backed by air tankers and helicopters, is working to contain the South Spencer Road wildfire.
A new estimate released today says the fire has burned five-square kilometres of bush and timber on the west side of the Fraser River, directly across from the Fraser Canyon Village of Lytton, about 250 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.
The village itself is not threatened.
The fire was sparked Wednesday near the CN works yard and its rapid growth prompted evacuation orders for 16 properties on the west side of the river.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has placed 20 other properties north of the blaze on evacuation alert as winds of up to 60 kilometres per hour are forecast to buffet the area.
Birkner says those winds, coupled with expected lower humidity, will challenge fire crews.
"Will will expect to see some flareups later in the day," he says.
The wildfire service says one outbuilding has been lost and the fire remains uncontained.
