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Kamloops  

MLA says Lytton looks like 'a war zone that's been forgotten' six months after wildfire

Lytton still 'like a warzone'

The MLA for Fraser-Nicola says Lytton residents are still waiting for promised government support to rebuild after a wildfire razed the village in late June.

MLA Jackie Tegart said that the government had agreed to fund the removal of debris from properties, but six months after the fire, no permits have been given out to start the process.

According to Tegart, people on the ground are doing good work to get services back into the village, but key government support is still missing.

Meanwhile, residents are still displaced across the province in hotel rooms, anxious to come home.

“As time goes on, their frustration to be living in temporary accommodation and to see the delays, the barriers, the lack of commitment, people are in despair,” Tegart told Castanet Kamloops.

On June 30, flames tore through the village, destroying most buildings. Two people died.

Tegart said residents are calling her office “beside themselves,” wondering when something will be done to kickstart the debris removal and rebuilding process.

“That we have not moved the debris six months in is unbelievable. So what are the barriers? How do we remove them? Who's responsible to remove them? Let's give people some hope. Let's give them a tentative timeline. And let's get things moving,” Tegart said.

Tegart said Lytton still looks just as it did the day after the fire — the only difference being 10 foot plastic fences set up in various areas, and the seasonal snowfall.

“It’s like a war zone that’s been forgotten,” Tegart said.

Tegart said she would like to see the provincial government provide expertise, not just money, investigate gaps currently in place and ensure rebuilding efforts occur in a timely way.

She said Lytton is a small municipality, and from the beginning, the province should have assembled a team to assist with local decision making.

“It’s so frustrating for me, as someone who’s advocating at a provincial level to have some action, to see where we’re at today,” she said.

Tegart referenced a report from the Insurance Bureau of Canada indicating that costs of recovery for Lytton were originally estimated to be $78 million, but has now increased to $102 million.

“As the delay continues, the costs go up. We need to see some action. We have two parliamentary secretaries that are assigned to this file. We need government to break down the barriers and get moving.”



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