Lytton officials outline how the evacuation was triggered

Officials from the Village of Lytton have sent out their first press release since the fire swept through the small interior town on June 30.

“Village staff were alerted when someone banged on the office windows after hours. Staff immediately contacted the Mayor, Jan Polderman, and the Lytton Volunteer Fire Department Fire Hall and found our firefighters were already battling fires.

“The Mayor quickly reached out to several contacts to attempt to confirm the severity of the fire. He also called 911 and was informed that the local RCMP were already evacuating residents on Fraser Street. The Mayor immediately contacted the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (“TNRD”) to let them know that he was ordering a full evacuation.

“Due to drought conditions for several months, everything was extremely dry and a very brisk wind was blowing at the time. These conditions allowed the fire to tear rapidly into and then through our Village. Once it was established in the area of town closest to the river and homes there were burning, it spread east across the streets with ferocious speed.

“A few buildings survived in town but nearly every home in the centre of the Village is gone. Where many buildings stood is now simply charred earth; it is going to take in-person assessments to determine the actual state the damage. Fortunately, some homes east across the highway were spared but are currently without electricity, sewer or water.

“There have been several injuries and two confirmed fatalities,” reads the release.