Two “fires of note” in the Fraser Canyon near Lytton have merged into one fire, according to the BC Wildfire Service, although fire activity is said to be less severe than days earlier.
Those are the weeks-old George Road fire, which started June 16, and the Lytton Creek wildfire. The latter started on Wednesday night, and burned down 90 per cent of the village while killing at least two people.
Lytton councillor Lilliane Graie urged people to register with emergency social services, saying if they don’t register, officials don’t know if they’re safe.
“For those of you who are looking to go back, please don’t. It is incredibly dangerous there right now,” Graie added, holding back tears. “There are areas that are quite toxic, and we need to keep you out of there and safe. We’ve already gone through a tremendous trauma, and we don’t want you going back in there and getting hurt.”
Officials have been unable to start investigating the cause of the catastrophic fire because of toxic smoke and other safety concerns. The blaze reportedly started in the town core not far from Main Street, before gusting winds blew the fire across the entire town and further north up the canyon.
Meanwhile, during the public information session, RCMP Southeast District Inspector Perry Smith was asked about many locals are upset about seeing photos of their town from others when they’re not allowed back in themselves. Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart called it “heartbreaking” for some of her constituents.
“It is unfortunate, and I know that it is difficult to view those. We’ve looked into them, these are not from any of our sources. Police or anything like that,” Smith says. “These would be coming from, we believe, people who are being put through to deliver supplies.
“We have to bring in fuel trucks or water trucks. There’s a lot of access for supplies going through that area that have been allowed to go through. And unfortunately we’re not in any position to cease people’s phones or anything when they’re going through.”
Smith says what’s left of the village is “very secure,” saying police are doing road checks on highways and forest roads towards Lytton to make sure people are only going that way if they are scheduled to.
