Learnings From Lytton

1

Dry surface fuels led fire to homes and other structures

Finding

The extreme fire behavior in Lytton wasn’t fueled by fire spreading through tree canopies. Instead, surface fires burned along the ground in dead grass, dry shrubs, and accumulations of leaf, needle litter, and other flammable debris.

Learning

Taking FireSmart actions on your property will influence how a fire approaches your home. Doing basic yard maintenance, like mowing and watering your lawn to pruning your trees, reduces the fuel sources around your property.

Illustration of fire burning forest
Fire Moved Fast

2

Fire Moved Fast

Finding

The fire moved quickly toward Lytton, exposing it to embers and heat. An hour after the first report of fire, at least 20 structures, mostly homes, were already burning. Meanwhile, wind-driven embers began to accumulate and smoulder, causing rapid structure-to-structure ignitions between sheds, homes, and business.

Learning

Fires spread with astonishing speed, so it is critical that all households have an evacuation plan and that everyone follows evacuation instructions as quickly as possible. To ensure you’re ready to leave your home on short notice: get your grab-and-go bags ready (include several days of clothing, toiletries and medications); prepare an emergency plan; make copies of important documents and mementos; and listen to local emergency officials for updates.

3

The Situation was Worsened by Vulnerable and Overlapping Home Ignition Zones (HIZs)

Finding

The rapid fire spread in the Lytton community was mainly a result of highly vulnerable ignition conditions within individual HIZs (the 30-metre area around a structure and its flammable attachments) and by structure-to-structure spread due to overlapping HIZs.

Learning

Taking FireSmart actions inside HIZs greatly reduces the chance of ignition from wind-blown embers. In densely populated communities with overlapping HIZs, neighbours should work together to ensure every property has ignition-resistant structures and landscapes.

The Situation was Worsened by Problematic and Overlapping Home Ignition Zones (HIZs)
FireSmart Homes Survived

4

FireSmart Homes Survived

Finding

Easily ignitable homes and other structures were the primary source of fuel for the Lytton fire. Unmaintained properties and structures built without FireSmart materials left many homes vulnerable to ignition from flying embers.

Learning

Easily ignitable homes and other structures were the primary source of fuel for the Lytton fire. Vulnerable properties and structures built without FireSmart materials were more likely to ignite due to flying embers.

5

Lytton’s FireSmart Plan

Recommendation

Lytton will be under threat again, so it’s crucial they make community wildfire protection their top priority moving forward.

Implementation

Lytton plans to adopt the “National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires” in the construction of all homes, staff the fire department with a FireSmart Coordinator to lead community education and engagement programs, and enrol all of its neighbourhoods into the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program (FCNRP).

Lytton’s FireSmart Plan

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Pile of Lytton reports

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