Signs of Life Return to Lytton, B.C., Nearly Four Years After Devastating Wildfire

Nearly four years after a wildfire incinerated most of Lytton, B.C., the village is beginning to show signs of revival — one home, one business at a time.

Mayor Denise O’Connor, whose home was among the many destroyed in the June 30, 2021 blaze, moved back into a newly rebuilt three-storey house this past weekend. Though rebuilt to the same size thanks to full insurance coverage — and with modern updates like an extra bathroom and a larger deck — O’Connor says it doesn’t quite feel like the heritage home she lost.

“I know it's mine, but it's so different from my home before the fire,” she said.

Roughly 90 per cent of the village was destroyed in the fire, including buildings on the nearby Lytton First Nation and in the Thompson Nicola Regional District. Delays in archaeological studies, insurance challenges, and infrastructure planning have meant progress has come slowly.

But now, some residents are finally moving home and businesses are starting to reappear. Nine rebuilt homes are currently occupied, with nine more expected to be move-in ready within months — a fraction of the 112 homes and businesses destroyed.

Builders like John May of South Pier Frameworks have been on the ground since the fire, first helping with clean-up and now leading construction. He’s built several homes in the village and nearby First Nation, including the mayor’s new residence.

“To come through when it was just rubble and fences to where it is now is uplifting,” May said. “It shows that there's hope for a future here.”

That hope is also reflected in community initiatives. The village council has approved a new pharmacy development, and reconstruction of the Legion and a craft store is underway. A planned community hub may include a pool and library.

Just blocks from O’Connor’s home, the Lytton Chinese History Museum is preparing to reopen on May 3. Executive director Lorna Fandrich wasn’t sure she would rebuild after the fire destroyed 1,600 artifacts and severely damaged the underinsured museum. But she was moved by the outpouring of support — nearly $150,000 in donations and 700 artifacts contributed by the Chinese community across Canada.

She’s recreated the museum much as it was, with one new addition: a display featuring items that survived the fire.

“The fire is part of the story,” she said, “but it’s such a small part of the story.”

For Mayor O’Connor, finally being able to sleep in her own bed and take in the view of the Fraser and Thompson rivers is a symbol of what’s ahead.

“It smells new when you walk in here,” she said. “It just feels so good.”