2 wildfires near Lytton, B.C., under control as warmer spring weather nears
Two wildfires sprung up near Lytton, B.C., on Monday and were put under control by the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).
The 3.6-hectare fire near Siska Creek, about five kilometres south of Lytton as the crow flies, was suspected to be human-caused, which is how any wildfire not sparked by lightning is categorized.
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On Tuesday, crews continued to extinguish hot spots, patrol the perimeter and conduct mop-up activities. It was still a smouldering ground fire with "some visible flame and a very slow rate of spread."
(BC Wildfire Service via CBC)
Another wildfire by Spatsum Creek, at 12.75 hectares, is under control about 50 kilometres northeast of the Siska Creek fire.
Sarah Budd, BCWS provincial information officer, said there have been 16 wildfires since April 1, covering around 78 hectares.
"We are tracking below that 10-year average in terms of area burned," she said.
She recommended property owners think about "fire smart" principles, including cleaning gutters, checking on decks, and making sure flammable debris is moved away from their home.
She also said people heading into the backcountry should be aware of prohibitions and restrictions in their area.
Budd said as the weather warms up in the spring, many areas in the province become susceptible to new ignition, but officers don't think in terms of a specific fire season.
"Fires will start when the conditions are there for them," she said.
Budd said if people see a wildfire start, they should report it to the BCWS by phone, text or mobile app.
The BCWS is expected to give its spring seasonal outlook on April 16 with information on current conditions and what they could mean for the season ahead.
Budd said the BCWS has more than 600 year-round positions for operational readiness across all phases of emergency response.
"This year we had another record-breaking year for applications. We received around 2,400 applications for crew members."
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Successful new recruits will go through boot camp and crew leader camps, Budd said.
Tricia Thorpe, area director for Blue Sky Country in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said she was concerned when she got the call about the wildfires Monday.
"It was like, oh no, here we go. Because it was extremely windy yesterday, so you worry."
But the community has a plan, she said, and the fires, which were quickly dealt with on Monday, showed how different organizations, including Lytton First Nation, Lytton Fire and Rescue, BCWS, and the RCMP work well together.
"I think that speaks well of how, as a community, we're pulling together to keep the community safe. We're not working in silos."
She stressed that the area is very dry.
"It could have been much worse."
Thumbnail courtesy of BC Wildfire Service/X via CBC.
THe story was originally written by and published for CBC News. It contains files from Alanna Kelly and Lauren Vanderdeen.