Structure loss along Highway 8 due to the Lytton Creek wildfire.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Matt Vanderveen
August 21, 2021 - 9:32 AM
The Thompson Nicola Regional District confirmed 30 structures have been impacted in its jurisdiction due to the Lytton Creek wildfire.
Priscilla Kazarian, with the regional district, said the number includes properties in the Dot Ranch area. She did not have the exact number of structures lost in each area but said the number is a total affected by the wildfire in the district’s region.
“The numbers range from damage to the property to total structure loss,” she said.
Three structures were also affected by the July Mountain wildfire burning to the south of Merritt in the Kane Valley Road area, she said.
With cooler temperatures and rainier weather, firefighters have been progressing well on securing a guard line to keep the Lytton Creek wildfire at bay in the Highway 8 area.
The wildfire is burning at 84,825 hectares in size to the northwest of Merritt and still classified as out of control.
READ MORE: Lytton Creek wildfire destroys structures, home northwest of Merritt
“Things have been pretty quiet. This cooler weather and the north and western side of the Lytton Creek fire actually took some rain yesterday,” said B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Shelley Bird.
“We’ve been progressing really well on securing that southern guard line… between Highway 8 and Highway 97C along that southern perimeter." Ground crews and helicopters continue to deal with hot spots within that finger and southern edge of that fire, she said.
Today, crews are laying hose along the northern perimeter of the fire from Highway 8 east, she said.
With wind the fire will create new smaller fires so there’s areas with burned and unburned fuel that are still concerning for increased fire behaviour, Bird said.
Yesterday, an evacuation order for the Lower Nicola region was downgraded to an alert. For more information on orders and alerts, visit the Thompson Nicola Regional District’s website.
Thunderstorms with lightning are a concern on wildfires across B.C., so wildfire crews are monitoring for new fire starts, she said.
No significant growth has been observed on the wildfire, Bird said.
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