Latest news with #ThompsonNicola
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Two wildfires burning near Lytton have residents of devastated village on edge again
It's not summer for Tricia Thorpe. It's fire season. With two wildfires burning out of control in the area around Lytton on Tuesday afternoon — four years after the town and surrounding properties were devastated by fire — the community is pulling together to face what has become a perennial threat. 'I don't think people understand what has happened since 2021,' said Thorpe, referring to the year her home and 520 other buildings were destroyed by fire the day before Canada Day. 'We've had fires every year, and every year it has been traumatizing.' This year it's the Nikaia Creek fire — a fire covering the equivalent of about six soccer fields — that began burning on Monday, about two kilometres from downtown Lytton on the western side of the Fraser River. An evacuation order was issued for two properties in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, while several properties on Lytton First Nation land remained under evacuation alert on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, a second smaller fire was discovered north of Lytton along Highway 12. Firefighters were attacking the slow-moving surface fire on Tuesday afternoon, when it was estimated at about one soccer field in size. B.C. Wildfire Service spokesperson Taylor Stewart-Shantz said the service responded to the larger Nikaia Creek fire Monday night with two initial attack crews and a rappel crew. Working through the night, they were able to lay a hose line around the fire for a 'direct attack,' with support from a helicopter making water drops. But with temperatures over 30 C forecast for Tuesday, as well as the possibility of winds, the fire continued to be listed as out of control. Crews 'remain aware of the weather' as they are fighting the fire, said Stewart-Shantz. Weather was a big factor in 2021, as a heat dome settled over B.C. and the temperature in Lytton soared into the mid-to-high 40s. The Lytton Creek fire, which started to the west of Lytton, leapt across the Fraser River to the village. That chain of events remains on the minds of many who have come back to rebuild, said Thorpe. 'There is a lot of anxiety, mostly because of the date,' she said. 'It's literally the four-year anniversary.' Since 2021, the region has weathered more fires. In July 2022, the Nohonim Creek fire destroyed six houses on Lytton First Nation land and several buildings on historic Earlscourt Farm, coming within 1.7 kilometres of the village. Due to the spring freshet, the ferry that crosses the Fraser River was closed, complicating efforts to fight the fire. In August 2023, the Stein Mountain fire led to evacuations on Lytton First Nation land as Canada sustained a record-breaking wildfire year. Last summer, there were more evacuations in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District as the Shetland Creek fire burned out of control near Spences Bridge. Thorpe said the past several summers have been difficult for many — with no indication this summer will be different. Thorpe said there was a moment after the 2021 fire when she and her husband talked about whether or not to stay. Support from their community persuaded them to rebuild. 'My husband is the fourth generation here,' she said. 'Right after it happened, people were reaching out to offer help and a place to stay. They wanted us to stay and there's something about having that community that you can't replace.' Because her property is in a rural electoral area, Thorpe was able to rebuild much quicker than those in the village, where delays have stretched several years, much of it caused by requirements for archeological assessments. The first dozen or so village residents moved back into rebuilt homes this year. Thorpe, who has since become the area director for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said B.C. needs to put more resources into fire mitigation and response in rural and remote areas, where it can take B.C. Wildfire Service time to mobilize. 'Those first hours can make a big difference,' she said. 'We've seen small fires grow to be a monster in that time.' She said the province has made strides in recognizing the role of local community groups in responding to fires that threaten their homes and livelihoods, some of which are active in the Lytton region, but she'd like to see more training, equipment and guidelines for them. 'We're living it,' she said. 'We're the first boots on the ground … (and) the people impacted most severely.' gluymes@ Poor water access limited early efforts to fight Lytton fire First look at Lytton reveals terrible extent of fire damage B.C. wildfires: Son watched in horror as his parents perished in Lytton fire
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire near Lytton, B.C., prompts local state of emergency, evacuation order
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District, as shown in this handout photo provided by BC Wildfire Service, has declared a local state of emergency for the Blue Sky Country region due to an encroaching out-of-control wildfire in south-central British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — BC Wildfire Service (Mandatory Credit) The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has declared a local state of emergency for the Blue Sky Country region due to an encroaching out-of-control wildfire near Lytton, B.C. It has also issued an evacuation order for two properties on Spencer Road South as the blaze poses 'immediate danger to life.' The BC Wildfire Service says the Nikaia Creek wildfire is about six hectares in size and is one of more than 70 wildfires burning across the province. It says crews, supported by firefighters from Lytton First Nation, made 'good progress' overnight and they are now focused on the north and south flanks of the blaze. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District also issued an evacuation alert Monday night for nine properties in the Harper Lake area near Chase, B.C., due to the rapidly growing Mount Scatchard wildfire. The blaze, which was discovered Monday and is about 35 hectares in size, also prompted the Neskonlith Indian Band to issue an evacuation order for 40 properties on Monday. The BCWS dashboard says hot and dry weather is expected to continue this week across most of B.C. It says northwest B.C. has cooler weather, as central and northeast B.C. are seeing warm seasonal temperatures. But the dashboard says southern B.C. will see very hot weather conditions, with temperatures five to 10 degrees above seasonal averages. It says thunderstorms are also expected to increase provincewide, with lightning risk peaking Tuesday. 'Given the ongoing dry and warm conditions, there is an increase in the potential for wildfires with the risk for dry lightning,' it says. About 85 per cent of the fires burning in B.C. are believed to be caused by lightning, while 15 per cent are believed to be human caused. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published July 1, 2025.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Malnourished German shepherd puppies surrendered to BC SPCA
Surrendered German shepherd mix puppies are seen in this image handed out by the BC SPCA. The BC SPCA is caring for a litter of severely underweight German shepherd mix puppies that were surrendered to the organization earlier this month – and they will be available for adoption soon. The owner, located in the Thompson-Nicola region, had been trying to re-home the accidental litter, the charity says. When animal control officers contacted the owner, they acknowledged they needed help and 'immediately' surrendered the puppies to the BC SPCA. Puppy One of the underweight puppies surrendered to the BC SPCA on June 10 is pictured. 'We appreciate that the owner of these puppies did the right thing and surrendered them, however, there is no denying that these animals were suffering,' said Eileen Drever of the BC SCPA in a Thursday news release. 'We strongly recommend that anyone having difficulty caring for their animals calls the BC SPCA Animal Helpline well before their animals' condition reaches this state to see what support is available to them. Not reaching out for support and allowing the animals to suffer could mean facing charges.' These seven-month-old puppies were all very underweight and dangerously dehydrated, requiring subcutaneous fluids and a monitored re-feeding plan. They also received treatment for parasites and poor dental health. 'These young dogs have been through a lot, but it doesn't show. They love people, love playing with each and in the pool in the centre's yard,' said Meranda Dussault, manager of the BC SPCA Shuswap location, in the release. She said a pup named Checkers, the smallest and weakest of the group, has stolen all the hearts of the BC SPCA staff. Checkers Checkers, one of the surrendered puppies, is pictured. 'She is super shy, but has started to stroll up to staff, tail wagging looking for a cuddle,' said Dussault. 'She is still tired and weak, but she is getting stronger every day.' The BC SPCA says the puppies will be up for adoption in two to four weeks.
