Lytton, B.C., rebuild continues three years after wildfire destroyed most of town
Three years after a wildfire destroyed much of the British Columbia village of Lytton, the tiny Fraser Canyon community is still struggling to get back on its feet.
Mayor Denise O'Connor told a news conference Tuesday ahead of the anniversary that there's good news, with the first building permit being issued for a grocery store, but bad news too, with some residents deciding not to return to rebuild their lives.
She said the community had about 200 residents before the wildfire destroyed 90 per cent of the structures in the downtown core and it is now home to far fewer people. Also lost were Lytton's corporate records, bylaws and policies.
"We lost everything," said O'Connor, including the river-view home where she lived with her family for more than 30 years. "But we are a much better place than we were last year, but we still have a long way to go."
The wildfire that killed two people on June 30, 2021, occurred as much of the province baked under a heat dome that had culminated a day earlier when Lytton experienced Canada's hottest recorded temperature of 49.6 C.
The B.C. Coroners Service says there were 619 heat-related deaths during the heat-dome period from June 25 to July 1.
O'Connor said she and her council were elected to rebuild the village, but they had been "challenged with the bureaucracy" that made the process take longer than anticipated.
"I had no idea coming into this role as mayor it would be quite like it is," she said.
O'Connor said construction costs had skyrocketed since the wildfire and many people who lost homes and businesses have had to apply for insurance claims extensions twice, while federal funding under net zero and fire-resilient building initiatives continue to be inaccessible to many owners.
The costs for property owners to meet requirements under the Heritage Conservation Act, to protect Indigenous historical and archeological resources, were "prohibitive," she said.
But despite the barriers facing Lytton, O'Connor cited rebuilding progress over the past year. That has included 13 residential and two commercial building permits being issued, the opening of a temporary village office, the restoration of municipal water and sewer infrastructure, and the lifting of a local state of emergency to allow residents to access their properties.
The potential rebuilding of the village grocery store and the sounds of home construction had people sensing that a recovery was underway, O'Connor said.
"It's getting pretty tiring driving to Ashcroft, Hope or Lillooet for groceries," she said.
The third anniversary of the wildfire is a solemn reminder of those who lost their lives and the many homes, businesses, municipal buildings and livelihoods destroyed, said O'Connor.
She said residents would gather for a barbecue on Sunday's anniversary to recognize firefighters and others who supported the community, during and after the wildfire.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'
The Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah was a 'measure of justice' for victims of a four-decade 'reign of terror,' U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday.
SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.
LGBTQ2S+ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
At least 52 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across southeastern U.S.
Hurricane Helene caused at least 52 deaths and billions of dollars of destruction across a wide swath of the southeastern U.S. as it raced through, and more than three million customers went into the weekend without any power and for some a continued threat of floods.
United States takes 8-6 overall lead at Presidents Cup with 3-1 third round
The United States has recaptured the lead at the Presidents Cup after a 3-1 third round of four-ball play at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
They hit it off on vacation but then he went silent. So she decided to pick up the phone
When a few weeks passed and Nana Prempeh still hadn’t heard from the guy she met on vacation, she turned to her friends for advice.
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.
Sima Sistani, who embraced Ozempic, is out as CEO of WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani, who pushed the company into embracing weight-loss drugs, is leaving the position after a two-and-a-half year stint.
Scientists discover hidden ancient forest on treeless island
Trees haven't grown on the Falkland Islands for thousands of years. But tree trunks and branches preserved in peat suggest the islands were once home to a forest.