Almost 200 wildfires continue to burn across BC, as officials suspect that human causes might be behind one of the major blazes that has consumed the community of Lytton.
As of Monday, the BC Wildfire Service reported that there were 199 active fires across the province – 46 of which sparked over the weekend. The agency also warned that two-thirds of the fires were classified as “out of control.”
Five of those fires have resulted in evacuation orders, including the one for residents who live within and around Lytton. A fire destroyed a good portion of the village last week.
Local officials said that Lytton residents will have an opportunity to return to their communities as soon as it is safe to do so. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is also working to organize the bus trips which will bring residents back to their homes so they can survey the damage for themselves.
On Sunday, BC Wildfire Service said it believes the fire that struck Lytton was caused by people. Fire information officer Erika Berg explained that the fire is suspected to have originated from within the village, but the investigation into the matter could take weeks or months.
CBC News reported that so far this season, over 680 wildfires have been reported across BC, burning nearly 900 square kilometers of land – more than three times the 10-year average for wildfire season.
