UPDATE – Evacuation orders are in place as the Nohomin Creek wildfire near Lytton is now estimated to be 75 hectares in size, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

The fire is about 1.7 km northwest of the community on the west side of the Fraser River, near the Lytton ferry.

The TNRD Emergency Operations Centre has issued an Evacuation Order for approximately 24 addressed properties northwest of Lytton on the west side of the Fraser River, due to the Nohomin Creek wildfire.

Details: https://t.co/719rkABQhI pic.twitter.com/H4AS9Z5mCW

— TNRD (@TNRD) July 15, 2022

Compounding the concerns for those in the evacuation zone are ways of getting out of the area.

“Individuals who are evacuating should take Spencer Road North to Lillooet for emergency egress,” noted the TNRD in its statement early Thursday evening.  “The route south to Boston Bar on the west side of the Fraser River has been compromised due to the spring freshet, and the Lytton Ferry remains out of service due to high water.”

This comes as the fire continues to grow and remains a challenge for crews.

The fire is displaying rank three and rank four fire behaviour with rank six being the worst as photos from the scene show lots of black and grey smoke billowing.

“Gusting winds in the area this afternoon are impacting the fire behaviour and crews on the air and in the ground are seeing moderate fire rates of spread,” Rob Schweitzer, the Director of Fire Centre Operations for the BC Wildfire Service said in an update Thursday.

Schweitzer said there are 54 personnel on scene – 12 initial attack crew members and two 21-unit crews – being supported by air tankers and helicopters as well as local firefighters and the RCMP. They will work through the night as needed.

“The incident is highly visible from Highway 1, the Village of Lytton, Lytton First Nation and surrounding communities,” he said.

Lytton First Nation Deputy Chief, John Haugen, says there are evacuation orders in place for Nohomeen IR 23 and Lytton IR 9B.

“As for our community, there are approximately nine individuals that should be on evacuation order,” Haugen said. “We have three elders that are in the direct line of this fire and we are working to make sure that they are safe.”

Pader Brach, the  Executive Director of Regional Operations at Emergency Management BC says there are unconfirmed reports that three structures were lost to the fire.

“Our condolences to the entire community,” Brach said. “Emergency Management BC is here to support the Lytton First Nation and those who have been forced to evacuate.”

Schweitzer noted the fire was reported at 12:45 this afternoon and not 5:54 a.m. as noted on the BC Wildfire dashboard, because of a glitch.

“This is a dynamic situation and updates will be provided as they become available,” he said, noting a cause of fire is not currently known.

This is the first Wildfire of Note in B.C. this summer.

Watch the Nohomin Creek wildfire update on YouTube for more information: https://t.co/SpUcdhu89b
To learn more about this Wildfire of Note, please visit: https://t.co/IQ9Y9rNr6U

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 15, 2022