By Canadian Press

Sprinklers installed to protect heritage park from wildfire near Lytton, B.C.

Jul 19, 2022 | 4:55 PM

LYTTON, B.C. — The British Columbia Wildfire Service says crews have made “great progress” in establishing a sprinkler system along a walking path in a provincial park northwest of Lytton, where a wildfire has scorched about 20 square kilometres of land.

An update posted to the service’s website says protecting the Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park is a priority, and its personnel are working with a representative from Lytton First Nation to identify areas of cultural value.

The wildfire service has warned that warm, dry weather with clear skies in the forecast this week will fuel increased activity for the out-of-control blaze.

It says winds Monday afternoon were challenging, with gusts up to 60 km/h, but containment lines on the south, east and north flanks “held up well.”

The flames were more active on the fire’s west flank, the service says, and helicopters have continued to dump water on the area, where much of the terrain is steep and inaccessible for firefighting crews.

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The blaze has destroyed at least six properties and forced more than 100 people from their homes on the west side of the Fraser River, about 150 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

More than 100 personnel have been assigned to the fire, backed by 10 helicopters and other support crews, the wildfire service says.

Environment Canada’s forecast for Lytton, which has just started rebuilding after much of the village was destroyed by a wildfire a year ago, predicts a daytime high of 34 C Wednesday with gusts of wind up to 50 km/h.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2022.

The Canadian Press