Warmer, drier weather expected to fuel flames near Lytton, B.C. Wildfire Service says

The B.C. Wildfire Service has warned that warmer and drier weather expected throughout this week could fuel potentially volatile conditions as crews battle an out-of-control fire just west of the village of Lytton.

Environment Canada's forecast for the area at the north end of the Fraser Canyon shows clear skies with daytime temperatures above 30 C starting Tuesday. 

The wildfire service says the lower relative humidity will cause fuels to dry out, stoking the flames of the blaze that now measures 20 square kilometres, according to the latest aerial mapping.

While the southern, eastern and northern flanks are showing minimal activity, it says the western flank is active and much of the terrain is steep and "inoperable."

Recovery is beginning in Lytton following a fire just over a year ago that reduced the village to rubble and killed two people. The province recently committed an additional $21 million to help rebuild the village, which is located around 150 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. 

This year's blaze has destroyed at least six properties and forced more than 100 people from their homes on the west side of the Fraser River.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told a news conference on Monday that the fire's western flank was pushing toward Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park,  where a spot fire was discovered near the start of a walking trail over the weekend.

The wildfire service says it is working with a representative of Lytton First Nation to identify areas of cultural value in the area and decide how to protect them.

More than 100 people have been assigned to the blaze, backed by four water tenders, 10 helicopters and other support crews, the service says.

Crews along the fire's southern flank have been extending their water delivery system as they work their way up a steep slope along the edge of the fire.

To the north, crews are building a "wet line" to protect B.C. Hydro transmission lines, while others have been patrolling structures along the fire's eastern flank.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Mobile home fire in West Kelowna

On Tuesday afternoon around 3 p.m., West Kelowna firefighters responded to a fire that engulfed a mobile home located on Old Ferry Wharf Road in the Westbank First Nation land near Bennett Bridge. B.C. Wildfire Service as well as fire crews from Kelowna were called in to extinghish the blaze.

Around 4 p.m., West Kelowna RCMP asked the public to avoid the area around Old Ferry Wharf Road while firefighters were still tackling the blaze, but at 4:50 p.m., West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund announced the fire is now under control.