Lytton, B.C., under evacuation alert, boil water advisory as wildfire burns nearby

Residents of Lytton, B.C. have been told to prepare for evacuation on short notice as an out-of-control wildfire burns nearby, while a boil water notice has also been issued due to concerns related to the blaze.

The Saw Creek wildfire, located about three kilometres south of Lytton, remains out of control and has grown to an estimated 600 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

“We did see some additional growth into the evening and overnight,” said Shaye Stearns, a fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre.

While fire activity eased overnight, Stearns said crews are still expecting the blaze to expand.

The BC Wildfire Service says 130 personnel have been assigned to the incident, including 63 who worked overnight. Nine helicopters are also supporting firefighting efforts.

Stearns said crews focused overnight on protecting structures as winds shifted direction.

Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks have also issued a yellow-level air quality warning for the southern Fraser Canyon, including Lytton, due to wildfire smoke.

The agencies say the region is being impacted, or is likely to be impacted, by wildfire smoke over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Stearns said the fire is currently suspected to be human-caused, though the official cause remains under investigation.

“When it’s that suspected human cause, it could mean any number of things,” she said.

The Village of Lytton is meanwhile advising local residents and those in IR 17 and IR 18 to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, ice-making, brushing teeth or preparing food.

The Lytton First Nation has also issued an evacuation alert for some of its residents.

Officials are also warning people to check driving conditions and travel safely.

“When you’re driving through and you can see fire, it does cause a lot of people to want to look because it’s not something they might often see, but it’s really important that you stay focused on driving and that you’re aware of the people that are working around you,” she said.

The village of Lytton was nearly destroyed after a devastating wildfire in June 2021 that killed two people.

– With files from Jace Maki and The Canadian Press