Wildfire Near Lytton Expands Rapidly Amid High Heat and Tough Terrain
Lytton wildfire, sparked south of the community, has grown rapidly, now scorching over 460 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Discovered just a day ago, the blaze has intensified due to extreme terrain and rising temperatures—fueling fears in a region still haunted by past fire tragedies.
Initially measured at 150 hectares on Tuesday morning, the fire’s perimeter expanded quickly as visibility improved. Located 10 kilometers south of Lytton, on the Fraser River’s west bank, the fire is believed to be human-caused and is burning upslope to the north. The terrain, surrounded by mountains and dry valleys, creates a perfect corridor for fire to climb fast—posing a tactical challenge for firefighting crews.
Cliff Chapman, BCWS’s operations director, emphasized the seriousness of the fire, explaining, “It’s a tough location—steep, hot, and dangerously familiar.” Lytton holds the unenviable record for extreme heat in B.C., and its geography makes fires here even more dangerous. On Monday night, fixed-wing air tankers couldn’t be deployed due to terrain, but helicopters—including night vision-equipped choppers—worked throughout the night to contain the blaze.
Fighting Fire from the Outside In
Despite the steep landscape and dry conditions, Chapman expressed confidence in the resources on site. “We have a solid anchor point near the river and are attacking the fire from the outside in,” he stated. Forty-five firefighters are currently deployed, supported by structure protection crews installing sprinklers and assessing risk. Crews are constructing fire guards on both north and south flanks to curb further spread.
Three helicopters, two with night-vision, continue to deliver water, move equipment, and survey the fire’s progression. The blaze is currently showing rank 2 and 3 behaviour—moderate surface fire with open flames and occasional candling. While dramatic smoke plumes are visible from Highway 1, the highway remains open, and no structures are immediately at risk.
Evacuation Alerts and Emotional Toll
On Tuesday evening, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Lytton First Nation issued evacuation alerts for multiple properties on the Fraser’s west side. For many in the region, the memory of 2021’s devastating Lytton Creek fire still lingers—where 90% of downtown Lytton was destroyed, and two lives were lost.
Chapman acknowledged the emotional burden, noting that several BCWS staff live in the area and have personally experienced previous fires. “They showed up last night and again today, doing everything possible to stop this fire from growing.”
Heatwave Challenges But Hope Remains
Forecasts predict scorching temperatures in the high 30s through Thursday, potentially hampering suppression efforts. Yet Chapman remained optimistic, citing stronger firefighting conditions later in the summer. “We’re entering a period where longer nights and rising humidity improve our odds,” he said. “If this fire had sparked in late May or June, we’d be facing an even more dangerous scenario.”
BCWS says it is ready to respond to any new starts across the province and is closely monitoring evolving conditions. While the situation remains tense, coordinated response, community vigilance, and natural shifts in the season may help keep this fire from becoming another tragic chapter.
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