PM promises support for Lytton wildfire evacuees

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — More than 1,000 people have been displaced due to a blaze in the B.C. Interior. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promising the people of Lytton will have what they need following the fire that decimated the village.

Trudeau says he is working with Premier John Horgan and officials in Lytton to make sure they have what they need following destruction of more than 90 per cent of the village.

“We are here as a federal government, as partners for whatever support people need. Standing with the people of Lytton to rebuild and continuing to work with the province to continue to keep all British Columbians safe,” Trudeau said Friday morning from Ottawa.

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But he also says the federal government is looking to what could be ahead.

“I’ll be convening the Incident Response Group with ministers from my team to address the needs of communities in B.C. hit by wildfires and extreme weather and take a look at what we expect might be a very dry, very hot summer with lots of wildfires.”

The committee of high-profile ministers are expected to gather Friday afternoon to discuss what can be done now to prevent any similar fires and any additional support that is needed.

Trudeau says he will also speak with the mayor of Lytton and will remain in close contact with all the provincial counterparts.

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The fire prompted the quick evacuation of the entire community Wednesday afternoon and came as the village recorded the highest temperatures ever in Canada on three consecutive days, the highest being 49.6 degrees on Tuesday.