The Kookipi Creek Fire. (Photo via BC Wildfire Service)
The Village of Lytton is on evacuation alert due to the Kookipi Creek wildfire.
Issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District on behalf of the rebuilding village, the alert covers 216 properties as outlined here.
“This Evacuation Alert is in place to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary,” the TNRD said. “Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to an Evacuation Order; however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.”
The alert comes less than two months after Lytton lifted its state of local emergency that had been in place for about two years following the massive fire of June 2021 that devastated the village.
A map showing the evacuation alert for the Village of Lytton as of August 17, 2023. (Photo via TNRD)
The 88-square kilometre wildfire is burning between Lytton and Boston Bar, west of the Trans-Canada Highway, which is closed in both directions between Hope and Lytton.
“Elevated winds, following a period of hot, dry conditions have resulted in extreme fire behaviour and further growth to north and east past the Nahatlatch and Fraser Rivers,” the BC Wildfire Service said, noting the fire has crossed the highway.
Both the Fraser Valley Regional District and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District have also issued evacuation orders and alerts for properties in the surrounding area, and along the highway corridor.
Several orders and alerts also in place for a number of First Nations reserves in the area.
The lightning-caused Kookipi Creek fire has been burning since July 8.
