UPDATE: Wildfire near Lytton 'under control' at 75 hectares

(UPDATE: March 23 @ 9 a.m.) — A wildfire that ignited near Lytton on March 21 had grown to 75 hectares by Thursday afternoon, but BC Wildfire says the blaze is under control.

The fire was estimated at four hectares when it was discovered. Fire information officer Jody Lucius said part of the growth was due to a burn-off operation undertaken as part of fire suppression efforts.

Prescribed burns planned in for the Lytton area near Highway 1 have not begun. Lucius said crews are waiting for the right weather conditions to start those projects.

(March 21 @ 11:15 a.m.) — The wildfire season is getting its start in B.C.'s Interior.

BC Wildfire says crews are currently responding to a four-hectare wildfire near Lytton that is unrelated to prescribed burning projects in the area.

Crews responding to a ~4 ha #BCwildfire near #Lytton. The fire is not related to prescribed burning. Smoke may be visible from nearby communities, #BCHwy12, and #BCHwy1.

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) March 21, 2018

Fire information officer Jody Lucius said the fire is believed to be human caused but a specific cause hasn't been determined.

A five-hectare prescribed burn south of Lytton and a 36-hectare burn northeast of Lytton were scheduled to take place starting on Tuesday, but the BC Wildfire Service says those projects have not begun.

The wildfire is currently estimated at four-hectares in size and a burn-off operation is planned for today. Lucius said the fire is expected to grow as a result of the burn-off, so smoke and flame may be visible from nearby communities, Highway 12 and Highway 1.

Despite it only being the second day of spring, Lucius said there have already been other small fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre in 2018.

"It isn't unusual for us to get wildfires this time of year, especially where the snowpack is not as heavy," she said.

This story has been updated to include comments from the BC Wildfire Service.