Lytton, British Columbia wildfire forces evacuations and closes Highway 1

The Saw Creek wildfire burning near Lytton, British Columbia, has been downgraded from "out of control" to "held," meaning it is expected to stay within its roughly 704‑706‑hectare perimeter. The fire, suspected to be human‑caused, was first detected on Friday and quickly spread in strong winds. As of the latest update, about 200 firefighters, ten helicopters, heavy‑equipment units and structure‑protection crews are working the blaze, focusing on the north and south flanks and establishing control lines.

Highway 1 remains closed from Boston Bar to just south of Cache Creek, with drivers directed to use Highway 5 as a detour. Evacuation orders stay in place for several dozen properties in the Village of Lytton and surrounding electoral areas, while alerts cover more than 200 additional addresses. One resident has confirmed the loss of a home. An evacuation centre operates at the Lytton First Nation Battlefield Community Hall. Authorities note improved communication and community resilience compared with the 2021 fire that devastated the village.