The Agassiz Fire Department dispatched an engine and crew to assist in fighting wildfires in the Lytton/Spences Bridge area.
Agassiz Fire Chief Gerald Basten confirmed the department responded to a request from the Office of the Fire Commissioner; he added neighbouring fire departments in Harrison Hot Springs, Seabird Island, Popkum and Chilliwack are all working together to ensure local emergencies are looked after and that crews are available when needed.
“The deployment process is very well organized and pre-arranged to ensure a quick response with trained firefighters,” Basten said.
As much as 90 per cent of Lytton was destroyed by a wildfire that raged through the community. Two people have died in the blaze. An evacuation order for the area has affected roughly 1,000 residents in the area.
B.C Wildfire Service reports that as of Monday (July 12), the wildfire has grown to 7, 723 hectares in size.
-With files from Paul Henderson and Ashley Wadhwani