Wildfire evacuation orders expanded in B.C.’s southern Interior [Video]

Two out-of-control wildfires in British Columbia’s southern Interior have forced officials to issue evacuation orders for people at almost 100 properties.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued evacuation orders Sunday for residents and owners of 88 properties in a remote area north of Lytton, including recreational cabins at Turnip Lake, due to the continued growth of the Shetland Creek wildfire.

The regional district said in a statement Sunday the evacuation order was issued “due to immediate danger to life safety caused by the Shetland Creek Wildfire.”

According to Kevin Skrepnek, manager of Community and Emergency Services for the regional district, the Shetland Creek fire has been steadily growing toward Lytton and some of the areas around the B.C. village, which were destroyed by fire in the June 2021 wildfire. 

Additionally, about 50 properties in the Botanie Valley area, north of the Village of Lytton is currently under an evacuation order, said …