, which has been burning out of control in southwest British Columbia since it was discovered in early July, the regional district says.Wednesday the fire destroyed a total of 27 properties, including six homes, in communities along Highway 1 north of Hope, B.C. The other structures were recreational properties and service buildings, it said.
"I am grateful for no loss of life and the ongoing resilience of residents," said Diane Johnson, a director with the FVRD. "The impacts and trauma associated with the Kookipi Creek Wildfire are undeniable; however, the communities we call home will support each other as we recover from the impacts of the wildfire."
The fire, which was discovered July 8 and is believed to have been ignited by lightning, is now estimated to be 180 square kilometres in size. It resulted in evacuation orders and alerts, including in the Village of Lytton, which was destroyed by fire in 2021. Residents in the FVRD, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Lytton First Nation, Skuppah Indian Band and Kanaka Bar Indian Band were also ordered to evacuate their homes due to the fire, which forced the closure of Highway 1 for two weeks in August.