The community of Lytton, in British Columbia, is once again under threat, this time from an out-of-control wildfire burning right on the edge of the town. The danger comes nearly five years after a devastating wildfire destroyed the village, a memory that hangs heavily over residents now watching flames return to their doorstep.
Officials describe it as a particularly large fire, one that grew to at least a couple of hundred hectares within a very short amount of time. It is listed as out of control, meaning there is no perimeter around it and it could continue to spread. Fire officials said the blaze was burning close to the community, within about three kilometres south of the village as of their most recent update, and was edging toward the highway and nearby structures, raising the potential for damage.
The conditions are working against firefighters. Shea Stearns of the BC Wildfire Service said hot and dry weather has been present throughout the day and over the past couple of days, leaving the fuel highly susceptible to ignition. As a result, crews are expecting the fire to grow further in size.
A significant response is under way. Multiple BC Wildfire Service crews are on the scene alongside the Lytton Fire and Rescue, with aerial resources also assisting the effort. In response to the fire, a 116-kilometre stretch of Highway 1 has been closed through the region.
For residents, the threat has translated into evacuation orders just east of the community, affecting just under 50 properties at this point. Those under order have been told they must get out immediately and stay away until authorities say it is safe to return, the most serious level of warning available.
Beyond the orders, a wider set of properties has been placed on evacuation alert, with residents warned to be ready to leave at a moment's notice should officials decide it is no longer safe to remain. The Wildfire Service believes the fire was caused by human activity, though it does not yet know exactly what type, as a community no stranger to dangerous heat once again finds fire on its border.