The Saw Creek wildfire south of Lytton, which forced hundreds of residents to flee and closed a section of Highway 1, is now considered under control, fire officials announced Tuesday.
Fire Declared Under Control
The B.C. Wildfire Service reported that the blaze, last mapped at seven square kilometres, is no longer expected to spread. Cooler temperatures, light winds, and sustained efforts from ground and air crews contributed to decreased fire activity overnight.
The wildfire was discovered Friday and is believed to be human-caused, according to officials.
Evacuation Orders Lifted
All evacuation orders and alerts affecting approximately 200 properties issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Village of Lytton have been lifted, allowing residents to return home. However, an evacuation order from the Lytton First Nation remains in effect.
The blaze erupted nearly five years after a devastating wildfire destroyed most of the Village of Lytton on June 30, 2021, killing two people.
“The wildfire, which had shut down part of Highway 1, forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes and led officials to declare a state of emergency,” according to Tiffany Crawford of Postmedia.
