The Mayor of Lytton says work to rebuild the village following the catastrophic 2021 wildfire is moving ahead.

Denise O’Connor says they have received approval to begin backfilling some properties with soil that were burned out.

“We have contracted locally here with the locally with Lytton First Nation, to bring the soil in so that is keeping our costs down as well as resourcing locally so that soil will come into the properties that are ready.”

O’Connor says trucks began bringing in soil on Thursday.

“Then there is compacting that has to happen, so they have to compact the dirt down and a quick geo-tech assessment of that property, and then once that piece is done, then it is turned over to the residents to complete whatever their plans are for the property.”

In the meantime, she is encouraging Lyttonites looking to rebuild to apply for building permits.

“We are going to be issuing building permits, so please start applying and that is to businesses, homeowners, and everybody that wants to rebuild.”

If all goes as planned, O’Connor says the hope is to have the majority of backfilling complete by the end of the summer.

It’s happening in #Lytton! Trucks are lined up! Backfilling has started! Forward we go! pic.twitter.com/tht1F5qiyQ

— Denise O’Connor (@deed5) July 6, 2023