IN THE LEDGE – 483 days later, residents of Lytton still wait to return home

Statement by Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone in the B.C. Legislature on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

T. Stone: With the blessing of the member for Fraser-Nicola, I am proud to speak today about the current status of the recovery and rebuild taking place in Lytton, after the entire town was levelled by wildfire over a year ago and, 483 days ago today, the people of Lytton experienced the worst possible tragedy.

The fast-moving Lytton Creek wildfire ripped through the village, destroying nearly everything. The residents there fled their homes and local businesses as fast as they could with barely more than the clothes on their backs.

So 483 days later, none of them have returned to a permanent home, and 483 days later, they still have no timeline for their return. There’s no sense of certainty as to when that sense of stability, comfort and community will be restored.

Residents were told that they would be able to expect to return to the community in September. That deadline came, and that deadline passed. They were told debris removal would be completed by September. That also hasn’t happened. A long-term recovery and rebuilding

Residents were told that they would be able to expect to return to the community in September. That deadline came, and that deadline passed. They were told debris removal would be completed by September. That also hasn’t happened. A long-term recovery and rebuilding plan could go a long ways towards providing Lytton residents some hope. But, 483 days later, it still doesn’t exist.

Meanwhile, in my riding of Kamloops–South Thompson, a similar level of uncertainty is felt by those Monte Lake and Paxton Valley residents who also had their lives turned upside down, losing their homes last summer due to the White Rock Lake wildfire. In the days ahead, I will speak to the rebuilding process taking place by the resilient and determined people impacted by that fire.

But for today, and with respect to Lytton, it is our hope that residents there can start to see progress and feel hope about their futures soon. They need action now. They deserve nothing less.

Source: BC Hansard.