20.72°C Vancouver

Sep 12, 2024 6:26 PM - The Canadian Press

Mounties say there's no evidence Lytton, B.C., wildfire was arson, cause unknown

Share On
mounties-say-theres-no-evidence-lytton-b-c-wildfire-was-arson-cause-unknown
They say investigators collected evidence including 400 videos and photos and reviewed parallel investigations by the BC Coroners Service, BC Wildfire Service, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Mounties in British Columbia say there's no evidence that the devastating fire that swept through the community of Lytton more than three years ago was arson.

Police have concluded their investigation into the June 2021 wildfire, saying they can't pinpoint the cause of the blaze that killed two people and wiped out much of the village and part of the First Nation, a day after a Canadian temperature record of 49.6 C was set in Lytton.

A statement from the RCMP says there is "no evidence to suggest the fire was intentionally set by the actions, or inactions, of any individual(s)" and the criminal investigation "has not determined the cause of the fire."

Police say they reviewed the weather conditions around the time, exhaustively searched two "areas of interest" where the fire may have started and interviewed 168 witnesses.

They say investigators collected evidence including 400 videos and photos and reviewed parallel investigations by the BC Coroners Service, BC Wildfire Service, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

RCMP Chief Supt. Brad Haugli says in the statement that the focus of the investigation was on the how and why the fire started.

"While we have no single source or cause that can account for the devastating fire, it was not due to a lack of effort. Significant work was done to not only look at establishing and confirming what did happen, but to eliminate what didn’t happen," he said.

"We remain committed to the community and the important need to support all those impacted, while we also join in the collective efforts to rebuild."

Police say the findings have been shared with the Village of Lytton, the Lytton First Nation and the families of those who died.

They said the work investigating the Lytton fire will help the RCMP should it be required to investigate similar events in the future.

Latest news

40-member-provincial-task-force-to-fight-extortion-crisis-in-b-c
BCSep 17, 2025

40 member provincial task force to fight extortion crisis in B.C., 6 extortion related arrests made so far

The B.C. government has announced a provincial extortion task force to investigate the extortion-related files that have become a concern for many areas of the province. The task force will be led by the B.C. RCMP and will consist of a total of 40 members. In addition to the RCMP, this force will include members from the Surrey Police Service, Delta Police Department, Abbotsford Police Department and Metro Vancouver Transit Police. In addition, members of the Canada Border Services Agency and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and members of the BC Anti-Gang Police Team will also be
details-coming-soon-on-gun-buyback-program-minister
CanadaSep 17, 2025

Details coming soon on gun buyback program: minister

The public safety minister says details on the Liberal government’s gun buyback program will be released within the next couple of weeks. Gary Anandasangaree says the government will provide information on next steps and the mechanics of the program very soon. Anandasangaree says he is confident collection facilities will be available in Ontario even though the Ontario Provincial Police has said they won’t directly participate in the program. He says other police have already signed on though he did not say which ones. During the spring federal election, the Liberals promised to implement
police-investigating-another-prowler-incident
BCSep 17, 2025

Police investigating another prowler incident

The Nanaimo RCMP continues to investigate several reports of a prowler in residential neighbourhoods throughout central and south Nanaimo. In the early morning hours of September 16, 2025, a resident returned home to find an unknown male standing on the patio of their ground floor apartment looking into the windows. The male fled prior to police arrival and was not located. “These incidents continue to be priority files as they are causing concern in our community,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. Patrol officers have increased their presence in the affected areas and inve
ontario-premier-urges-carney-to-maintain-tariff-on-chinese-evs-despite-canola-levy
CanadaSep 17, 2025

Ontario premier urges Carney to maintain tariff on Chinese EVs despite canola levy

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to maintain Canada's 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, saying the measure is critical to securing a trade deal with the U.S. and protecting Canada's auto sector. Carney met with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe yesterday to talk about China's canola tariffs, which are largely seen as a retaliatory measure triggered by the electric vehicle tariff. China charges a 76 per cent tariff on Canadian canola seed imports and a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil, meal and peas. Ford's open letter to the prime minister, relea
police-investigating-homicide-on-spruce-street
BCSep 17, 2025

Police investigating homicide on Spruce Street

Prince George RCMP is currently investigating a homicide that occurred on September 16, 2025, on the 1900-block of Spruce Street. “The initial call to Frontline Police officers was received around 3:30 a.m. Investigators attended a residence on Spruce Street to find one person deceased and a second person suffering from gun shot wounds. Multiple people in the residence were detained during the investigation and were subsequently released without charge,” states Corporal Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP. Police believe this to be a targeted event with

Related News