RCMP says Lytton bushfire probe still active, two years after village devastation

LYTTON, BC – Mounties say their investigation into the devastating fire that destroyed most of the village of Lytton, BC two years ago remains “active and ongoing.”

Staff Sergeant Kris Clark of the BC RCMP says officers have no timeline for when their investigation into possible crime could be complete, and are aware of other investigations surrounding regulatory compliance and the cause of the fire.

A state of emergency was declared by the village on June 30, 2021, after BC’s blistering heat dome sparked a wildfire that killed two people and burned homes, businesses and local infrastructure.

The state of emergency was only lifted in June when local officials suggested people could start rebuilding in a few months, though it remains unclear how many people will decide to return.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister David Eby and Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma say the devastation caused by the wildfire has deeply affected the Nlaka’pamux Nation, the village of Lytton and the greater Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

They say requirements for debris removal, environmental remediation and archeology have been completed, including the protection of Nlaka’pamux heritage resources.

“The village of Lytton is transitioning from recovery to rebuilding and has lifted a local state of emergency. Hydro, water and sewage infrastructure are being repaired and the boiling water advice has been lifted. The village has established an office within the community and local events are resuming,” they say.

“We know that people are eager to return to their communities and there is a lot to be hopeful about.”

The village of Lytton and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District are suing Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways and Transport Canada, alleging their negligence in allowing trains to run through the town during the heat dome. The district says the claim was filed on its behalf by its insurer, the Municipal Insurance Association of BC

According to the claim filed June 16 in the B.C. Supreme Court, a train passed through the village 18 minutes before the first report of a fire near the tracks, eventually destroying 90 percent of the city’s buildings.

A Transport Security Council report released in October 2021 found no evidence that rail operations caused the Lytton bushfire.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 30, 2023

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