Wildfire along connector now under control

The BC Wildfire Service is reporting that the wildfire which sparked Wednesday night along the connector, highway 97C, is now ‘under control.’

The fire spread to nine hectares before fire personnel were able to contain the blaze.

It is believed the fire was started when a vehicle fire spread to the nearby vegetation, however no official cause has been confirmed.

A second wildfire near Lytton has forced the TNRD to issue an evacuation alert.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says 55 personnel are trying to suppress the 60-hectare wildfire, called East of Skuppah, located just outside of Lytton.

The fire broke out Wednesday (June 16), and Fire Information Officer Taylor MacDonald says it won’t be easy to put out.

“The fire is currently burning in steep terrain, which has been a bit of a challenge for crews. There are lots of steep valleys and steep hills in the Lytton area, so that does it make it a bit challenging,” MacDonald told CFJC Today. “We are expecting to see some hot and dry conditions over the next few days, which could lead to some more fire activity on site.”

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation alert for ten properties near that fire earlier Thursday.

(with files from James Peters)