B.C. crews battling cluster of new wildfires in Lillooet area

Firefighters are working on a cluster of new blazes that were sparked by lightning overnight in the Lillooet Fire Zone, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Firefighters are working on a cluster of new blazes that were sparked by lightning overnight in the Lillooet Fire Zone, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Out of the five new fires, one is located between Lillooet and Cache Creek, and the other four are north of Lytton.

The BCWS summarized its current response to each of the fires in a social media post Saturday.

It said the Mount Martley wildfire, burning 6.5 kilometres south of Pavilion Lake, is “spot size” and exhibiting rank 1 and 2 fire behaviour—meaning smouldering ground fire and low vigour surface fire.

An initial attack crew has been sent to that fire, and is doing danger tree assessment and falling and laying out fire hoses. “They will be supported by helicopter as needed,” the BCWS wrote.

Air tankers are responding to the Shetland Creek wildfire as it is not accessible by road. That blaze is located about 7.5 kilometres north of Spences Bridge and is 0.7 hectares in size.

About 18 kilometres southwest of Ashcroft, the White Mountain wildfire has burned three hectares and is displaying rank 2 and some rank 3 fire behaviour. Rank 3 constitutes “moderately vigorous” surface fire.