Saw Creek wildfire near Lytton now held after week-long battle

The Saw Creek wildfire that triggered evacuations around Lytton, B.C., is now being held, the provincial wildfire service reported Tuesday, June 23.

The seven-square-kilometre blaze, discovered last Friday, was downgraded from active to held after a days-long battle involving about 200 firefighters. The status change means the fire is not expected to grow beyond its current perimeter.

Tricia Thorpe, a director with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said the shift from red to yellow on wildfire maps — the colour-coded system used to track fire status — represents a major relief for the community. She noted the timing carries weight: the fire came five years to the month after the 2021 Lytton wildfire that killed two people and destroyed most of the village.

"When you watch B.C. wildfire maps, moving from that red flame to the yellow is huge," Thorpe said. "I'm really happy, and I suspect a lot of the community is as well."

Thorpe, who lives on the edge of the village, credited the community's preparedness since 2021. "I think we have learned a lot from '21 and we're implementing what we've learned," she said. "The minute the snow is gone, you've got a go-bag packed, and you're vigilant."

As of Tuesday afternoon, a handful of properties remained under evacuation order while hundreds of others were on evacuation alert. The B.C. Wildfire Service reported that Tuesday was expected to be the hottest and driest day in the current forecast period.