Wildfire near Lytton holding steady: BC Wildfire Service

The Nohomin Creek wildfire continues to burn just less than two kilometres from the Village of Lytton, but BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews say it’s holding relatively stable for now.

There’s been little-to-no activity on the eastern edge of the blaze, with growth over the past few days and in the coming days expected to be in the northwest corner, according to fire information officer Kaley Desrosiers.

“The fire is burning in steep, kind of inoperable terrain in many areas. We’ve had helicopters bucketing throughout the week pretty consistently in areas that crews can’t reach. But crews have been successful and continue to be quite effective in establishing a fuel-free line in the northern flank there, up along Seven Mile Creek. Crews in the southern region of the fire have been patrolling and extinguishing hot spots,” she explained Monday morning.

The fire is now an estimated 2,900 hectares in size.

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• Several lightning-sparked fires burn in B.C.’s Southern Interior

• Lytton First Nation members forced from homes due to Nohomin Creek wildfire

Several helicopters are assigned to this fire, as are dozens of BCWS crew members.

While there’s been little growth in some areas of the fire, temperatures and weather conditions in the region remain volatile. The service says it’s working to ensure crews are staying safe while working outdoors for extended periods of time.

“When temperatures get in the mid-to-upper-30s, the length of their breaks does get extended,” explained Desrosiers, who adds breaks get longer when temperatures climb further.

“Just to make sure that they are avoiding any heat-related illness, staying hydrated.”

Last week, lightning strikes and widespread heat warnings once again pushed the wildfire risk into the high or extreme range in B.C.’s Southern Interior.

The BC Wildfire Service is currently responding to numerous fires in the Vernon zone of the Kamloops Fire Centre. A lightning event which moved through the area last night and this morning has created multiple new starts. pic.twitter.com/83ftI8d9oT

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 29, 2022

Meanwhile, Desrosiers says the re-launch of the Lytton Ferry has helped crews logistically. When service was shut down, she says access to the fire “was a lot more limited,” adding it took about a couple of hours to get to the fire each way.

“Definitely since that ferry has been opened, crews have decreased the time that it takes them to get out there and access it. So, certainly, logistically and for safety reasons it has been a significant improvement,” she told CityNews.

Evacuation orders and alerts remain in place for some areas, issued by the Lytton First Nation and the Thompson Nicola Regional District.