A couple who lost their home in the Lytton Creek wildfire are rebuilding with help from volunteers.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Tricia Thorpe
November 06, 2021 - 3:04 PM
It has been four months since the town of Lytton was almost entirely destroyed by a wildfire.
The town is reportedly a dead zone with the majority of its residents still displaced.
One couple is busy building a new home on the outskirts of town and they hope to move into it for the winter. It is a race against time as the temperatures drop.
READ MORE: 90% of Lytton destroyed by fire, injuries reported
Tricia Thorpe and Don Glasgow are residents of Botanie Valley near Lytton and who lost their house in the wildfire. The couple are living at a friend’s place and spending every day on their own property, building a new house.
“We are very driven to build our new home,” Thorpe said. “So many people have helped us that we must finish it. That is the only way we can thank them for their kindness and generosity.”
The house is being built with help from volunteers. Thorpe said last week a group of retired B.C. Rail and CN Rail workers pulled their resources together to put the posts and beams up. The roof will be on in a couple of days.
A couple who lost their home in the Lytton Creek wildfire are rebuilding with help from volunteers.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Tricia Thorpe
“These guys all worked together on the railway in Lillooet at some point,” Thorpe said. “They were able to make a lot of progress. We have had individuals come to help, as well as a crew of young people who came to help with pouring cement.”
She is very thankful for all of the volunteer help they continue to receive.
Thorpe said materials have been easier to come by than what they had expected. They are sourcing materials from Chilliwack and Kamloops, and receiving donations too.
“We were able to get cabinets and other pieces for free from houses slated for demolition,” Thorpe said. “I end up doing a lot of driving. We are reusing and recycling to keep costs down, trying to do things as economically as possible.”
Thorpe said they are building a zero net house that is made of concrete to withstand future wildfires.
“We are using insulated concrete forms for floors and walls, tin on the roof and installing an air-to-water heat pump. I am learning a lot," she said. "The floor is concrete with in-floor radiant heat."
This week the village announced a draft recovery plan for the community that will begin with removal of hazards and hazardous materials. Some residents are reportedly frustrated at the slow pace of redevelopment of the town.
READ MORE: Rebuilding Lytton brings unexpected challenges, says Kelowna-based CAO
“Botanie Valley where our property lies is not considered part of the City of Lytton or Lytton First Nations. We are basically being ignored through all of this,” she said. “There is so much that needs to be done and it is not happening in the village or in Botanie Valley. We are going to keep pushing forward and doing what we can to put a roof over our heads.”
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