Lytton mayor urges patience from residents of fire-ravaged Westwold and Monte Lake

LYTTON (NEWS 1130) – The mayor of Lytton says while his entire community sympathize with the residents of Westwold and Monte Lake after fires devastated the two small communities, homeowners shouldn’t be risking their lives or putting others in jeopardy by defying evacuation orders.

Jan Polderman says homeowners should obey official orders and clear out when an evacuation order is issued.

“While I understand their will to save their properties, you know, they also need to think their personal safety and that of people who may be required to come in and rescue them, should things go badly,” Polderman told Radio NL in Kamloops.

Flames destroyed homes, the general store, and at least one campground in Monte Lake, between Vernon and Kamloops, last Thursday. Meanwhile, the White Rock Lake fire continues to burn out of control and Monte Lake and Westwold remain under evacuation orders.

Related articles:

• Wildfire tears through Monte Lake destroying homes, general store
• Lytton councillor pleads for patience
• Lytton evacuees get first look at devastation in fire-ravaged village

The Village of Lytton was destroyed by wildfire on June 30. Some people only had minutes to pack up their lives and flee. Two people died in the fire and the cause is still under investigation.

Polderman is offering his support to those who lost homes last week to the White Rock Lake fire. He says it’s going to take time for both communities to recover.

“It brings up emotions and I’d want to say to them that we’re all in this together and as time goes on, we’ll work to rebuild the province better than it was before,” he said, adding people should be supportive of firefighters. “People fighting the fires, they’re working under very difficult conditions and the armchair quarterbacking of their efforts, I don’t think is very helpful. To the people that have been affected by the fire, this is going to take some time to rebuild, so you need to practice patience.”

There are still 260 wildfires burning across the province. Since April, 1,454 wildfires have burned an area more than twice the size of Metro Vancouver. Nearly 5,400 properties are still under evacuation orders, with more than 30,000 on alert.