A new wildfire burning near Lytton, British Columbia, has forced evacuation orders for properties east of Highway 1 within the village, while the community's recovery from the devastating 2021 fire remains largely incomplete. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District declared a state of emergency in Blue Sky Country on Saturday as the blaze grew.
Resident Recalls Ongoing Struggle
Eric Siwik, an 80-year-old Lytton resident of more than two decades, was taken by ambulance from Lytton to Lillooet with first- and second-degree burns to his arms and face in 2021. He still does not have a home after his was destroyed in the fire. “I still haven’t got a house,” Siwik said Saturday. Despite the renewed threat, he remains committed to rebuilding his life in the village. “Everybody says hi to each other there, everybody knows everybody,” he said. “It’s a wonderful little village where all my friends are.”
Funding and Rebuilding Statistics
The June 30, 2021 wildfire erupted a day after Lytton recorded Canada’s highest temperature of 49.6 C. The blaze destroyed nearly all of the village, killed two residents and damaged nearby First Nations communities. Despite more than $140 million in federal and provincial funding commitments, only 20 homes have been rebuilt. About 75 people now live in the village, down from roughly 210 before the fire. Siwik noted that some residents never returned: “Some people just gave up,” he said.
Obstacles Highlighted by Auditor General
A March 2026 report from B.C.’s Auditor General Bridget Parrish highlighted obstacles that have slowed the recovery. As of March 2025, 33 building permits had been issued, with the first permit not approved until more than two years after the disaster. The report found that the province largely expected the village to manage its own rebuilding despite having limited staff and resources, lacked a comprehensive disaster recovery framework, and existing policies were insufficient to support a recovery effort on Lytton’s scale. It also said 60 per cent of residents did not have insurance to cover losses, and provincial officials failed to establish effective collaboration between village officials and the Nlaka’pamux Nation, within whose traditional territory Lytton is located.
Progress and Future Plans
Despite the challenges, some progress has been made. The village has completed a public works building, reopened the Chinese museum as its first rebuilt business, and started work on a new village office. Larger projects are also moving ahead, including a nearly completed Royal Canadian Legion building and plans for a grant-funded community hub that could include a library, museum, pool and community gathering spaces. Siwik, president of CKLS 95.7 FM Lytton, a community radio station, said: “The village still looks a bit like a bowling alley, but it’s starting to come back to life.”
