Wildfire near Lytton has tripled in size, Fraser Canyon remains under evacuation alert

A wildfire in B.C.'s Fraser Canyon has tripled in size since it started on Wednesday night and has prompted the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to issue an evacuation alert to residents living in the area.

On Thursday, the district asked people living in 10 properties south of Lytton, B.C., to be ready to leave their homes within short notice while the fire is posing a threat to structures.

The alert applies to six properties along George Road and four along Trans-Canada Highway, effective on Thursday at 11 a.m. PT. 

Eight of the affected homes are located in the Kitzowit 20 Indian Reserve of the Lytton First Nation.

Acting chief John Haugen said he received calls Wednesday around 11:30 p.m. of the fire, which originated at George Road. The fire has grown from 80 hectares on Thursday to an estimated 250 hectares on Saturday morning. 

"[The fire was] human-caused, as far as we're aware," Haugen said Thursday to Shelley Joyce, the host of CBC's Daybreak Kamloops. "It's a bit careless that in this weather condition that people risk that." 

B.C. Wildfire Service crews were dispatched to fight the fire.

Fire information officer Madison Smith says the unusual terrain is making things difficult for crews.

"It is very steep so we can't have our crews working. So the helicopters have been working upside of the hillside, because it can't be accessed by our ground crews," she said. 

Lytton is one of the hottest places in the country and often witnesses wildfires around this time of the year. Last August, a small wildfire was sparked there when an allegedly impaired driver crashed into a hydro pole.

Haugen said he hopes the wildfire will be brought under control amid the dry, hot weather this week in the Lytton area —  a temperature of as high as 32 C and humidity around 30 per cent, according to Environment Canada.

Haugen warned that the heat could "could mean that it moves in a more aggressive way."

Crews remain on site 24/7 in order to control the blaze.

What affected residents need to know

The regional district asks impacted residents to:

• Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area.

• Pack essential items such as government-issued IDs and valuable papers for quick departure from home should an evacuation order be issued.

• Prepare to move people with disabilities, children and neighbours.

• Prepare to take pets with you and move livestock to a safe area.

• Arrange transportation for all your household members. 

• Arrange accommodation for all members of the residence.