Disaster Date:06/30/2021
Lytton, BC
Fires
What Happened
On June 30, 2021, a wildfire swept through the village of Lytton, destroying more than 90% of the town and killing two people. The fire wiped out the town’s infrastructure, including the fire hall, police station, grocery stores, restaurants, town hall and records, museum, and approximately 100 homes. Quite miraculously, St. Barnabus Church, Rectory and Parish Hall survived the fire. On June 29, Lytton broke the all-time record for Canada’s highest temperature at 49.6C. The next day, the majority of the town was destroyed by wildfire.
What MDS Is Doing
MDS volunteers built one new home in 2024 and will focus on building one new home in spring 2025, with the possibility of more homes in the future.
Location
Lytton is a village located on the east side of the Fraser River and the south side of the Thompson River. The community includes the village of Lytton and the surrounding community of the Lytton First Nation, whose name for the place is Camchin (also spelled Kumsheen, which means “river meeting”). In the 1850s, Lytton became an important stop for those involved in the Gold Rush. In recent years, Lytton has been referred to as the river rafting capital of Canada. During heat waves, Lytton is frequently the hottest spot in Canada.
