‘We are all in pain’: Lytton councillor pleads for patience as village devastated by wildfire looks to rebuild

LYTTON (NEWS 1130) – Weeks after a devastating fire destroyed most of the Village of Lytton, a councillor is trying to provide more information to those who lost their homes.

In a letter posted on the village website, Lilliane Graie says she is in the same boat as many, having lost her home in the fire that swept through the area on June 30.

“It burned to the ground while I tried to help at the wildfire, my husband in the car keeping our two dogs calm,” the letter reads. “After talking with my Corporal at the south end of town, I knew we were homeless with only the clothes on our backs and whatever I had in my bag. I then had to walk back to our car, climb in, face my husband with that information and see the devastation slam into him.”

Lytton councillor letter wildfire

Graie says she can’t take the time to cry because there is a mountain of work to be done for residents and the village. That includes work to defer taxes, water and sewer payments, as well as figuring out details for a byelection.

‘Doesn’t help anyone to be cruel’

In addition to outlining some of the next steps, Graie is also calling out those who are taking advantage of the current situation for their own gain or to further their own agenda.

The councillor notes while she understands people are angry, hurt, and scared about what comes next, “it doesn’t help anyone to be cruel.”

“I hope those who have been using this awful circumstance for their own benefit will now pause and consider how much more harm they are doing to people who have suffered enough, and stop spreading rumours, innuendo, or outright lies, or sending abusive and threatening emails and messages to us,” she writes.

“We need to help each other and pull together in the same direction. And if you think you can do a better job, maybe you should have stepped up instead of treating like dirt the very people working to get you what you need to put your life back together,” the letter continues.

Urging people to stay informed, Graie shared a link to a satellite image of the fire in June. She points out the photos shared are almost three weeks old, and that there are now even more fires burning across the region.

“We are all tired, we are all in pain, and we are all worried but we are still working daily on your behalf as we have been since day one and will continue to advocate for Lytton and her residents, always,” her letter concludes.

‘Horrified, embarrassed, ashamed’: former village councillor slams post

Meanwhile, a former Lytton councillor has taken to social media to blast Graie’s comments.

“The post shared by the Village of Lytton’s Facebook Page, does not represent our people,” Tiffany Callewaert-Haugen said in a Facebook post.

Callewaert-Haugen added she is “horrified, embarrassed, and ashamed,” calling Graie’s letter “more of a tirade” than a measure to address concerns.

Noting comments to the post on the village’s Facebook page are disabled, Callewaert-Haugen called it “outright unprofessional, irresponsible, arrogant, and shameful.”

She doesn’t feel the mayor and council have communicated well with the community.

Callewaert-Haugen accuses Graie of “trying to play the victim” by talking about how she was among those who lost their homes.

“A step back or a take over, needs to be taken, for the sake, safety and future of our community and its citizens,” Callewaert-Haugen wrote in her post.

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Related articles: 

• Lytton evacuees get first look at devastation in fire-ravaged village

• Little left of wildfire-ravaged Lytton as letter details ‘heartbreaking’ aftermath

• Lytton to be rebuilt with ‘climate-friendly’ vision after devastating fire: Horgan

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There are hundreds of wildfires currently burning across much of B.C., with many parts experiencing hot, dry conditions that are proving challenging for fire crews. Many of these fires have forced evacuation alerts and orders.

While the premier has said he’s prepared to declare a state of emergency “when it is required” by professionals on the frontlines, he says that time has not yet come.

“When the professionals ask for it, we’ll do it. They haven’t yet,” John Horgan said last week.

This comes as calls grow for the province to make such a declaration, with a petition asking, “what will it take for proper action and outside help to arrive in B.C. to tackle these large fires?”