No evidence trains caused Lytton wildfire: Transportation Safety Board

LYTTON (NEWS 1130) — The Transportation Safety Board says it has not identified any link between railway operations and the Lytton Creek wildfire.

The fire left two people dead and nearly the entire village destroyed after it began on June 30. It came just after the hottest-ever temperatures in Canada were recorded in Lytton on three consecutive days.

It’s believed the homes closest to the river were lost first before the flames moved at a “ferocious speed” east across the streets of the village. Nearly every home in the centre of Lytton burned down.

This summer’s heatwaves, drought conditions, and heavy wind in the Fraser Canyon only exacerbated the spread of the fire, which, once started, moved terrifyingly fast and forced many residents to flee with only the clothes on their backs.

‘Significant investigative work’ conducted

An investigation into the cause of the fire was launched 10 days later by the TSB and came following outrage from residents over a possible connection between train activity and the devastating fire.

The TSB shared photos collected during its investigation of the train which travelled through Lytton 18 minutes before the fire was reported.

“Train C73152-29, a westbound Canadian Pacific (CP) loaded unit coal train (157 cars), operated by CN Crew, was the last train to pass through Lytton on the CN Ashcroft Subdivision prior to the first report of fire,” the report reads.

Forward-facing video from the lead locomotive on train C73152-29 at about 1630 PDT looking west as the train approaches the crossing at Mile 98.14 (Source: Canadian Pacific Railway)

“It was travelling at 25 mph (40 km/h) with low to moderate throttle to maintain speed. CP 300-29 was the last train to pass through the Lytton area eastbound on the CP Thompson Subdivision prior to the 1st report of the fire.”

The TSB says there were no reports by either railroad operators of any issues with trains passing through the area.

North edge of crossing at Mile 98.14 Ashcroft Sub looking eastward – BC Wildfire Service suspected origin of fire. (Source: TSB)

The investigation also details which steps the TSB took to determine there were no rail grinding activities that could have sparked a fire. Interviews were also conducted with railway employees in the area at the time, and no anomalies were observed or reported, the TSB said.

“A fire is reportable to the TSB as a transportation occurrence if it is known that the operation of railway rolling stock causes or sustains a fire. There has been no report of such an occurrence made to the TSB by either railway that operates through the area,” according to the report, released Thursday.

While the TSB has determined a train was likely not the cause of the fire, it has not pinpointed the origin of the flames.

In an updated Thursday, lead investigator James Carmichael said that would be determined by the BC Wildfire Service.

Re: who determines how the fire actually started, Carmichael says that would be up to @BCGovFireInfo.

Fox says it is still possible trains played a role in cause of this fire, but no evidence found linking them by TSB investigators. @CityNewsVAN

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) October 14, 2021

Images and video that circulated on social media of a train with smoke nearby led some people to believe the fire may have been caused by the train. However, Carmichael said images and video could not link that train to the one passing through Lytton.

“I’m not aware of any video of a train in Lytton that was smoking or on fire. There were social media photographs of one somewhere near Boston Bar. We did not investigate that,” he explained. “We did look at some photographs and came to the determination that the pack of the lumber was not on fire.”

Carmichael adds investigators couldn’t determine if it was the train that was on fire, or if it was a fire on or underneath the bridge.

TSB Chair Kathy Fox adds they didn’t receive reports of fires associated with railway operations during this period.

“We even reached out proactively to ask if the railways were aware of any anomalies in their operations that might have contributed to a firing area. We were told ‘no,'” she said.

A village hoping for answers

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart told CityNews Wednesday that she hoped the findings would help residents get some closure and help shift the focus to rebuilding and recovery.

She says progress has been slow, and communication has been lacking.

“It was an incredibly traumatizing experience. So many people only got out of their homes with the clothes on their backs. As we know two people perished that day, and also many people lost animals and beloved pets. People are displaced. They’re feeling disconnected,” she said.

The RCMP detachment, post office, and other critical infrastructure were destroyed by the fire, Tegart points out.

“The sorts of things that are part of our everyday lives are gone. People are anxious to get those basic things back because the community of Lytton was a hub for a great many people who live outside the Village boundaries, and there’s a lot of work to get those services back for the people who are living there, and those who want to come back,” she said.

“For anybody that drives by or through Lytton, it’s like a war zone. You just get heavy as you drive through and you see the burnt-out areas.”

RCMP investigation continues

The BC RCMP says the investigation into the fire is still in progress and police are working with BC Wildfire Service to determine if anything criminal happened.

“We are mindful of the other investigations that are focussing on determine the cause and origin and looking at compliance or regulatory impacts,” a statement from the RCMP reads.

Anyone who has information about the fire who hasn’t spoken to police yet should call Southeast District RCMP Tip/Information line at 250-470-6222.

“Significant progress has been made in the investigation with respect to witness statements, interviews, and the collection of both physical and digital forensic evidence that continues to be analyzed,” the statement adds. “The RCMP does not have a timeline on how much longer the investigation will take, however, it remains a priority and we continue to work on the outstanding tasks. The RCMP respects the importance of completing a thorough and comprehensive investigation, given the devastating impacts.”

– With files from Nikitha Martins and Lisa Steacy