Ceremonies are taking place today in Lytton to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the of the devastating Lytton Creek Fire which destroyed about 90 per cent of the community on June 30, 2021.

Mayor Denise O’Connor says the anniversary of the fire which also killed two people is an opportunity for Lyttonites to reflect, as well as to look forward.

“We can never forget the two lives that were lost due to the wildfire, and we are immensely thankful to everyone who risked their lives on that tragic day to help Lytton,” she said.

“We hope to remember this day going forward, not only as the anniversary of the wildfire, but also as Lytton’s rebuilding anniversary.”

A state of local emergency was lifted early last week, though O’Connor tells Radio NL that emotions in the Fraser Canyon community are still somewhat raw. She also points to signs of optimism ahead as the dirt backfilling of burned-out properties is set to begin next week.

“Our timeline for it is – and I hate to give firm timelines – but if all goes well, we hope to have the majority of that work done by the end of the summer,” she said.

With many Lytton residents scattered across the province, it’s not clear how many people will rebuild. O’Connor will, though she says it is a tough decision to make.

“Personally, I’ve also decided to move ahead with my rebuilding, just because of the way things are starting to move forward,” she said. “I took a long time to decide that.”

While this lifting of the state of emergency and the backfilling work will allow the rebuilding process to begin, O’Connor says other steps are also being taken.

“We’re one step closer, I just heard the other day, of getting that the village office set up here in Lytton,” she said. “I can’t give details on that but we’ll be seeing that happen very soon. That means our staff will be working out of that hall.”

RCMP says Lytton wildfire probe still active

In a statement, BC RCMP say their investigation into the devastating fire remains “active and ongoing.”

“[We are] continuing to assess for possible criminality and we have no timeline with respect to when it may be completed,” Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said. “We will continue to take the time needed to ensure that all avenues of investigation have been covered off.”

“We remain mindful of other investigations that focused on determining the cause, origin and looking at compliance or regulatory impacts. We appreciate the continued understanding and patience of the public as investigation progresses.”

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

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

“Hydro, water and sewage water infrastructure are being repaired and the boil-water advisory has been lifted,” the statement said. “The village has established an office within the community and local events are resuming. We know that people are eager to return to their community and there is much to be hopeful about.

“This has been a long and challenging process, and there’s still work to be done. Affected people and families remain at various stages of returning home, and while the RCMP investigation continues, we remain committed to working diligently until everyone sees the pathway to returning home.”

Investigations into the fire have been unable to find a direct cause. However, locals in Lytton suggest a passing train just minutes before the blaze broke out in nearly 50 C temperatures would seem to be the likely cause.

Papers have also been filed in BC Supreme Court on behalf of Lytton and the Thompson Nicola Regional District to potentially find a way for reimbursement for the deadly fire. The lawsuit is meant to give the Municipal Insurance Association of BC an additional year to find any evidence of fault.