B.C. Wildfires 2021

From left to right: John Showman on fiddle, Max Malone on bass, and Chris Coole on banjo (Contributed Joel Varjassy).

Perseverance, hope at centre of B.C. wildfire song by band with Lytton roots

‘Praying for Rain’ from the Lonesome Ace Stringband, is about the 2021 Lytton fire

 

Roses blooming at the back of a property on Fraser Street in Lytton. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)

‘Our story has to stay out there or we’ll be forgotten’: Lytton resident

One year after fire nearly wiped out Fraser Canyon town, progress has been slow and painful

 

An artist’s rendering showing proposed multipurpose buildings for a site on Highway 1 at Kanaka Bar to support Lytton residents. (Photo credit: Kanaka Bar/Urban Systems)

Kanaka Bar Indian Band’s housing society to receive $471,000 in federal funds for community hub

Multi-purpose building would provide a temporary service hub for the area devastated by wildfire

 

Becky Adams has posted a song she wrote about the loss of homes in Lytton on YouTube. She was raised in the small community that was hit by fire on June 30, 2021, and has strong ties to the area still. (YouTube/Becky Adams)

VIDEO: Lytton-raised woman writes song for those who lost their town to devastating fire

Hole in My Heart written and performed by Becky Adams, who has strong connections to Lytton

Becky Adams has posted a song she wrote about the loss of homes in Lytton on YouTube. She was raised in the small community that was hit by fire on June 30, 2021, and has strong ties to the area still. (YouTube/Becky Adams)
Murray Rankin, B.C. minister of indigenouse relations and reconcilitation, announces grants to reduce wildfire risks at the Kalamalka See Orchard Tuesday, April 19. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Grants reduce Okanagan wildfire risks

$3.5 million directed to Kamloops Fire Centre and First Nations

Murray Rankin, B.C. minister of indigenouse relations and reconcilitation, announces grants to reduce wildfire risks at the Kalamalka See Orchard Tuesday, April 19. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Wildland firefighter Sasha Terhoch sprays water on hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Finance minister hints at changes to BC Wildfire Service after climate disaster filled year

Selina Robinson made comments one day before B.C. Budget unveiling

Wildland firefighter Sasha Terhoch sprays water on hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Damaged structures are seen in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rays of hope emerge in rebuild of Lytton months after wildfire destruction

‘Everywhere we lived, it wasn’t home’

Damaged structures are seen in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Village of Lytton on July 9, 2021, one week after a massive wildfire ripped through the town. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. funds first steps of Lytton rebuild, restoring village records

Water systems, debris removal and environmental work

The Village of Lytton on July 9, 2021, one week after a massive wildfire ripped through the town. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)
Lillooet Secondary School is changing out their mascot, the Wildfire, after several devastating blazes that have affected nearby communities. (Lillooet Secondary School)

Lillooet school extinguishing ‘Wildfire’ mascot due to trauma from nearby forest fires

School says wildfires in Lytton, Elephant Hill led to change

Lillooet Secondary School is changing out their mascot, the Wildfire, after several devastating blazes that have affected nearby communities. (Lillooet Secondary School)
Properties destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire on June 30 are seen as a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, produced by the same fire rises in the mountains above Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Delays push cost to rebuild fire-damaged Lytton to $102M: insurance bureau

No permits yet issued to rebuild homes or businesses as costs escalate

Properties destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire on June 30 are seen as a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, produced by the same fire rises in the mountains above Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An RCMP vehicle drives past the remains of vehicles and structures in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. The British Columbia government says it is immediately providing a grant of $1 million to support the Village of Lytton as it recovers from a destructive wildfire last summer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. giving $1 million to wildfire-ravaged Lytton to help with recovery

FIre torched town one day after the temperature there hit an all-time Canadian high of 49.6 Celsius.

An RCMP vehicle drives past the remains of vehicles and structures in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. The British Columbia government says it is immediately providing a grant of $1 million to support the Village of Lytton as it recovers from a destructive wildfire last summer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Michaud Creek wildfire as it reaches the boundary of the Kutasewich property. Submitted photo

‘I had to do it’: A Kootenay couple’s fight to save their property from wildfires

The Michaud Creek fire devastated the area surrounding the Kutasewhich family’s Arrow Lakes property

The Michaud Creek wildfire as it reaches the boundary of the Kutasewich property. Submitted photo
A fire truck leads a bus down Main Street past damaged structures during a media tour in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘Lytton still exists’: Woman irked at PM saying fire-ravaged village gone as locals await aid

Trudeau made the comments during a climate conference in Glasgow

A fire truck leads a bus down Main Street past damaged structures during a media tour in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE – Thick smoke fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun as a property destroyed by the White Rock Lake wildfire is seen in Monte Lake, east of Kamloops, B.C., on Saturday, August 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C., Red Cross to pay $1,300 per month to wildfire-affected residents in need of housing

Funding will go to eligible families currently in short-term housing after wildfires

FILE – Thick smoke fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun as a property destroyed by the White Rock Lake wildfire is seen in Monte Lake, east of Kamloops, B.C., on Saturday, August 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The remains of a large structure and vehicles destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire are seen on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. B.C.’s public safety ministry has announced the appointment of two parliamentary secretaries who will work as recovery liaisons between the province and the village of Lytton following a wildfire earlier this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Province appoints recovery liaisons to help in rebuild of fire-ravaged Lytton, B.C.

Pair previously worked to help the Grand Forks community rebuild following floods in 2018

The remains of a large structure and vehicles destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire are seen on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. B.C.’s public safety ministry has announced the appointment of two parliamentary secretaries who will work as recovery liaisons between the province and the village of Lytton following a wildfire earlier this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Damaged structures are seen in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘When will the rebuild actually happen?’: TSB report findings cause stir over future of Lytton

Edith Loring-Kuhanga called on the provincial and federal governments to provide more resources

Damaged structures are seen in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021, after a wildfire destroyed most of the village on June 30. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A Canadian Pacific freight train travels on tracks covered with fire retardant in an area burned by wildfire above the Thompson River near Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

No evidence found to connect railway activity to deadly Lytton wildfire, TSB says

Safety board says “significant” investigative work found no link between railway operations and fire

A Canadian Pacific freight train travels on tracks covered with fire retardant in an area burned by wildfire above the Thompson River near Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)

Safety board releasing results of Lytton wildfire investigation

Report looking at the possibility a freight train sparked blaze that destroyed town released Oct. 14

Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)
Fraser Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart calls for action on wildfire recovery at Lytton, B.C. legislature, Oct. 7, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C.’s wildfire recovery taking too long, Premier John Horgan told

Temporary housing in works for burned-out Lytton residents

Fraser Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart calls for action on wildfire recovery at Lytton, B.C. legislature, Oct. 7, 2021. (Hansard TV)