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Dozens working to fight fire near Lytton as evacuation alerts rescinded by TNRD

All evacuation alerts lifted

UPDATE: 7:40 p.m.

All evacuation alerts issued for properties around the George Road wildfire near Lytton have now been lifted.

Earlier this evening, the Lytton First Nation rescinded evacuation alerts it had issued for IR 20, Kitzowit.

That followed a decision by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District early this morning to rescind an evacuation alert for 10 homes in Electoral District I.

In an update Monday evening, the BC Wildfire Service indicated crews had made good progress on workable areas of the fire while helicopters continued to bucket the "inoperable, steep parts of the fire."

"As the hot weather persists, increased fire behaviour may be visible in the inoperable areas of the east flank.

"This is behaviour that is expected and accounted for in the long-term monitor and modified response strategy."

BCWS says a "modified response" is one which involves monitoring fire activity within specific policies and management guidelines.

"Land managers and stakeholders determine specific values that, if threatened, will trigger an altered response to the fire. When a fire has been changed to modified response, BC Wildfire Service will still monitor the fire."


UPDATE: 1:52 p.m.

Dozens of crew members are on scene fighting the George Road fire on Monday, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

The fire, located seven kilometres south of Lytton, is still classified as out of control, but has been held at an estimated 350 hectares in size.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, there are 60 firefighters, two water tenders and two pieces of heavy equipment fighting the blaze as of Monday.

Crews are being supported by eight helicopters.

Four personnel were stationed at the fire overnight.

The BC Wildfire Service said steep terrain has posed a challenge for crews fighting the wildfire.

“As we are moving into hotter and drier weather, we are working with our partners and land managers to create a long term management and monitor strategy for the upper areas of the fire that our ground crews cannot action due to safety concerns,” the wildfire service said in a statement.

On Monday morning, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District rescinded an evacuation alert for Electoral Area I that had been in place for several days.

The Lytton First Nation issued its own evacuation alert for IR 20, Kitzowit, which is still in place.


ORIGINAL: 10:46 a.m.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has rescinded evacuation alerts for 10 properties south of Lytton.

The properties were placed on evacuation alert on Thursday last week due to the nearby George Road wildfire, which has scorched hundreds of hectares in the area.

In a statement issued on Monday morning, the TNRD said the evacuation alert was rescinded as of 11 a.m.

“The threat of the George Road wildfire in the area no longer poses an imminent risk to the safety of residents,” the statement read.

On Sunday, BC Wildfire Service crews said they made good progress over the weekend fighting the blaze.

The fire is an estimated 350 hectares in size.



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