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Evacuation alert lifted as Lillooet wildfire contained

An evacuation alert for about a dozen residents near Lillooet has been lifted, as crews declared a nearby wildfire fully contained.

The Highline Road fire, seven kilometres southwest of Seton Portag, began over the weekend, according to the Wildfire Management Branch.

It was only about 1.7 hectares, but officials were concerned high winds in the forecast could cause it to quickly grow and spread.

Meanwhile, an evacuation alert remains in effect for 12 properties in a remote area along the north short of Anderson Lake, between Pemberton and Lillooet.

The lightning-caused wildfire is small — just under two hectares — but it has the potential to spread quickly if fanned by strong winds. Forestry crews have made good progress containing it.

So far this year, B.C. has spent $86 million dollars fighting wildfires, said Forests Minister Steve Thompson.

Some 338 blazes are currently burning in the province, Thompson added.

Forestry officials estimate lightning across B.C. on the weekend spawned more than 50 new blazes, while more than 1,100 wildfires have burned 86 square kilometres of backcountry since April.