BRITISH COLUMBIA- Hundreds of residents in Lytton, British Columbia, faced another day of anxious waiting on Sunday as the out-of-control Saw Creek wildfire continued to burn along Highway 1. However, favorable weather conditions and a massive deployment of firefighting resources have allowed emergency crews to make significant progress. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) reported that lighter winds enabled ground crews to directly attack both the north and south flanks of the fire, which has fortunately begun growing away from local communities.
Reflecting the improved conditions, evacuation orders were downgraded to alerts for more than 40 properties near the Village of Lytton. The Lytton First Nation also lifted an evacuation order for one of its reserves. Despite the progress, a state of local emergency remains in place for Lytton and Blue Sky County. Approximately 15 properties remain under strict evacuation orders, while more than 200 properties are still under an evacuation alert, leaving residents on standby to flee at a moment’s notice. Highway 1 also remains closed between Boston Bar and Spences Bridge as the fire continues to burn on both sides of the roadway.
The wildfire grew by about 100 hectares overnight, reaching approximately seven square kilometers in size. BCWS Fire Information Officer Paula Walbauer stated that while containment efforts are going well, upcoming weather patterns present a looming challenge. Temperatures are expected to climb, keeping conditions hot and dry, with a critical wind shift from the east forecast for Tuesday afternoon that could rapidly alter fire behavior. Currently, 135 firefighters and nine helicopters are battling the blaze, supplemented by specialized structure protection crews deploying sprinkler systems around homes. The wildfire is currently suspected to be human-caused.
For the residents of Lytton, the timing of the emergency carries a heavy emotional toll. The blaze broke out just 11 days before the five-year anniversary of the catastrophic 2021 wildfire that completely destroyed the village and claimed two lives. Local residents and members of the Lytton First Nation shared that the smoke and evacuation sirens triggered intense flashbacks to that disaster. Many who lost their homes in 2021 had only recently rebuilt and moved back into the community. However, locals noted that communication, emergency preparedness, and inter-community cooperation have been vastly superior during this crisis compared to five years ago.
