Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service
Republished September 01, 2016 - 5:18 PM
Original Publication Date September 01, 2016 - 9:06 AM
UPDATE: 5:15 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1
Media release from B.C. Wildfire:
LYTTON - Due to favorable wind conditions that have allowed the South Spencer Road wildfire to burn within the existing perimeter, crews have made good progress with suppression efforts. This fire is estimated at 500 hectares in size and is now 30 per cent contained.
Today 80 firefighters, five pieces of heavy equipment, five helicopters, and four airtankers are on site. Crews continue to establish containment lines in areas of new growth, with the help of heavy equipment. Firefighters are conducting burn-out operations to eliminate pockets of fuel near control lines.
The fire continues to burn away from structures and sprinkler protection units have been mobilized on properties in the area. Crews are suppressing the southern flank, closest to critical infrastructure and the community of Lytton. Northern portions of the fire remain in modified response, which means that wildfire officials are closely monitoring this area where human and natural resource values are not a risk. Trigger points have been established where greater risks may develop, and if the fire begins to approach these points, resources will be allocated to manage the fire.
Smoke will continue to be visible to surrounding communities. BC Wildfire Service would like to remind all public driving within the area of fire operations to please use caution as visibility may be impacted.
There is an Evacuation Alert and Order in place for this incident. For more information please contact the Lytton First Nation Band Office, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District at www.tnrd.ca, and the BC Wildfire Service Fire of Note Page at http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=606.
For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the BC Wildfire Service website at www.bcwildfire.ca
You can also follow the latest wildfire news:
12:47 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1
At least 35 homes are under an evacuation alert in the area of the South Spencer Road wildfire burning south of Lytton and 11 others are under evacuation order.
"The area of the evacuation alert has been expanded to include the entire area between the CN train bridge in Lytton north to the Stein River," B.C. Wildfire Service says on their website.
The latest available information shows the fire is still 500 hectares and uncontained.
Crews have expanded to 80 firefighters, five helicopters, heavy equipment and two air tankers.
Credit: @shelleyocean
Twitter user Shelley Ocean's footage of the South Spencer Road wildfire yesterday, Aug. 31, 2016.
9:06 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 1
LYTTON - The South Spencer Road wildfire burning near Lytton has grown to 500 hectares and at least one building has been destroyed.
"It did grow a little bit overnight," B.C. Wildfire Service Fire Information Officer Max Birkner says.
There were 19 firefighters battling the blaze overnight and at least 80 more are expected to join the fight today, Sept. 1.
An unknown structure described as a shed or outhouse was destroyed by the flames.
At this point the fire is zero per cent contained and weather conditions could make things worse for firefighters today.
"We are expecting sustained strong winds today," Birkner says.
All properties on the east side of South Spencer Road from 3800 South Spencer Road north to the boundary of the Papyum 27 Indian Reserve are under evacuation.
For more of our coverage on this story, go here.
Credit: @shelleyocean
A map of the area affected by the evacuation alert and order.
Image Credit: Thompson Nicola Regional District
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News from © iNFOnews, 2016