A report into Lytton, B.C., wildfire suggests more community fireproofing needed

A report examining the wildfire that wiped out Lytton last June says it's important to understand what happened so other communities don't suffer the same fate.

The report says the destruction of Lytton was more than a wildfire problem and it makes 33 recommendations to reduce fire risk, especially within so-called home ignition zones, where structures and homes burn easily.

The authors say the loss of the village could not have been stopped, even with immediate emergency aid, because at least 20 buildings were engulfed in barely an hour, requiring the response of as many as 60 fire trucks.

Recommendations to control future risks include evacuation routes, mandatory mowing of tall grass in residential areas and development changes that set minimum clearances between buildings.