A new wildfire burning less than two kilometres northwest of Lytton, B.C., may have destroyed several structures, emergency officials say.
Rob Schweitzer, director of fire centre operations for the BC Wildfire Service, said the Nohomin Creek wildfire was first reported around 12:45 p.m. Thursday, and was being fanned by gusty winds. By 8 p.m., it had grown to 200 hectrares.
Four initial attack crews and two unit crews, a total of about 55 personnel, were on the ground and being supported by helicopters and air tankers, he said.
Crews were slated to stay on site through the evening and overnight if needed, he added.
The fire has been declared the province’s first “wildfire of note” of the season.
Pader Brach, executive director of regional operations for Emergency Management BC, said officials believe three structures may have been destroyed.
About nine people were under an evacuation order, and several evacuation alerts were in place in the Lytton First Nation. The Thompson Nicola Regional District also issued an evacuation order for 24 addresses in Electoral Area “I” (Blue Sky Country).
Food, accommodations and clothing were made available for evacuees, he said.
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Telephone, internet and cell service in the area, including access to 911, was also affected. Telus said the outage was the result of a vehicle collision that damaged some of its infrastructure in the Hells Gate area.
Brach said there were also five cell towers and some landlines in the fire zone, but wasn’t able to speak to whether they had been affected.
It’s been just over a year since the village was virtually burned to the ground amid B.C.’s record-breaking heat dome.
Two people died, while hundreds were forced out of their homes.
Work to rebuild the community has only begun recently. Residents have not yet be allowed to return.