A highway closure and air quality warning triggered by an out-of-control wildfire near Lytton, B.C., remained in effect Sunday. The Saw Creek Wildfire is estimated at 704 hectares and has prompted multiple evacuation orders and alerts. Highway 1 between Boston Bar and Ashcroft has been closed since Friday. The next update on the roughly 115-kilometre stretch of road is expected Monday. Drivers are being told to use Highway 5 or Highway 97C as detours. An air quality warning covers the southern part of the Fraser Canyon, between Lytton and Dogwood Valley. “During a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour,” the warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada said. “Exposure to smoke can affect your health. Postpone or reduce strenuous outdoor activities until the warning has ended. Spend time indoors in a space with cleaner air.” People with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, pregnant women, infants and the elderly are more vulnerable to negative smoke-related health impacts, the agency also noted.
