Almost two years on, uncertainty adds to trauma felt by Lytton fire survivors

Twice a day, Denise Mcintyre drives the Lytton, B.C., school bus past the hillside where her home once stood.

Since the wildfire that destroyed the village almost two years ago, Mcintyre has been back on her property only six times, kept away by an evacuation order that remains in place to this day.

Sometimes work crews leave the gates open, tempting her to turn down her road and go home, but she knows “there’s nothing there.”

For Mcintyre, uncertainty seems to have become a way of life. She has a job and a bed at her mother-in-law’s house 11 kilometres from the village. Beyond that, she doesn’t know what the future holds.

As the two-year anniversary of the fire approaches, it’s unclear how many people have left Lytton for good — taking an insurance buyout, putting their properties up for sale, moving on.

Lytton Mayor Denise O’connor said she is aware of four people who have died and several others who have left.

“There’s quite a number of people planning to rebuild, and we’ll welcome new people,” she said. “I don’t think people feel all hope is lost because some people are not coming back, but it is sad.”

O’connor said she feels the village has finally shifted from recovery to rebuilding.

Several property owners are in the building permit process, although not yet approved. Hydro crews were running lines on Thursday, with water and sewer infrastructure to be addressed next. Contaminated soil has been removed, with backfilling expected to begin in the next few weeks. Council has started to discuss rebuilding City Hall and other public buildings.

“There’s lots happening behind the scenes, but not a lot visible yet,” she said.

Lifting the evacuation order is one of O’connor’s next goals as she continues the recovery

“The fire did a number on my brain.” Denise Mcintyre Resident

and rebuilding process started by the previous mayor and council.

“I still don’t understand how it’s been two years,” she said when asked about the pace of progress. “We came in new and we’re focused on moving ahead. I think someday that question will have to be answered.”

Building permits will be approved on a property-by-property basis, with owners required to show certificates for the removal of contaminated soil and archeology reports, as well as building plans.

B.C. forestry company Teal Jones said it still plans to donate lumber for 50 homes after making the province, village, Lytton First Nation and the regional district aware of the offer in 2021.

“We’re waiting to hear where we can deliver it,” said Conrad Browne, director of Indigenous partnerships and strategic relations.

At the time of the offer, several other companies pledged paint and trucking, but it’s unclear if those donations are still on the table.

Colin Doylend, executivedirector of the SAFERHOME Standards Society, which secured federal funding to deliver two fire-resistant, low-carbon Nexii homes, said he hasn’t heard back from the village about the society’s plan to build a house in the village, putting the project in doubt. He hopes to continue working with Lytton First Nation.

O’connor said council plans to follow up on the offers as people prepare to start the actual rebuilding work. A $6-million “resilient rebuild program” announced by the federal government and open for applications this week will provide a “top up” for people who want to make their new home fire-resilient or Net Zero.

“This is a long time coming,” Conservative MP Brad Vis said in a statement. “Residents have shared with me stories of trauma from the day of the fire, and sadly residents also tell me they have felt significant trauma from all the uncertainty, delays, mental and financial pressures of the recovery.”

For Mcintyre, rebuilding is hard to wrap her mind around.

She didn’t have home insurance, and she’s been delaying a trip to the bank to discuss the possibility of a loan. There are complicated septic and structural issues on her property, which is terraced with retaining walls that were ruined by the fire. There may be a risk of falling rock.

She said she was able to rescue some of her belongings in the “sifting” process, when residents were allowed to return and look through the rubble, but she wasn’t able to finish. She is unsure about next steps.

“The fire did a number on my brain,” she said. “The process is pretty complicated. I find it hard.”