Trains near Lytton, B.C. halted as wildfire evacuees make temporary return

OTTAWA — Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is ordering most trains in the vicinity of Lytton, B.C., to halt as residents return temporarily to the wildfire-scorched community.

Alghabra says the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways must cease movement for 48 hours, except for emergency fire response and maintenance and repair work, on stretches of track spanning parts of the British Columbia interior.

He says the aim is safe rail operations and public safety as residents arrive in Lytton today by bus to inspect their homes after evacuating the village when a wildfire swept in last week.

The raging blazes have damaged rail tracks and held up shipments across the B.C. Interior, prompting a backlog of deliveries.

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Residents are still processing the loss of their homes after most buildings in their community were levelled by the wildfires, one of which spanned nearly 90 square kilometres.

Premier John Horgan plans to ask the federal government to send in the Canadian Armed Forces to help clear fire danger zones in an effort to prevent future blazes.

Hundreds of evacuees will take an emotional bus trip through what’s left of their village, after a wildfire tore through the community last week. The local MP has said 90 per cent of the community was scorched.

Residents are being picked up in Whistler, Chilliwack, Merritt, and Kamloops, as many evacuees were dispersed to several areas.

Listen live for updates throughout the day and follow NEWS 1130 reporter Martin MacMahon on Twitter for the latest.

With files from Monika Gul and Claire Fenton