Cantilever Bar (image credit - Global)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE SEASON 2025

Cantilever Bar wildfire not currently threatening Lytton but anxiety remains for those who experienced 2021

Jul 30, 2025 | 4:37 PM

LYTTON — The Cantilever Bar Wildfire is burning approximately 10 kilometers south of the Village of Lytton. The wildfire is now estimated at 460 hectares, a three-fold increase from Tuesday (July 29). Evacuation alerts remain in place for three local First Nation communities and the Thompson Nicola Regional District.

Only over the past 12 months have new homes emerged from the once scorched ground in Lytton. Now more than four years since the devastating wildfire of 2021, the nearby blaze brings with it memories of that terrible day.

“Every single person that is in the Village of course is experiencing it differently,” explained Lytton Mayor Denise O’Connor. “I would say that many continue to have a lot of anxiety with the smell of smoke, with the sound of helicopters, when they can see flames.”

The BC Wildfire notes the Cantilever Bar fire is burning on the west side of the Fraser River. The Village of Lytton is not current under any threat from the fire, but residents who have been fortunate enough to return are leaning on each other for support.

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“The PTSD, the trauma that people faced, and the experience, and the effects are still there today from that, from four years ago,” O’Connor told CFJC News. “It’s still very real for people. So, yes I would say there is support with each other, many people have family around here, friends they have known for years and years.”

Lytton was draped in a cloud of smoke on Tuesday, with ash failing throughout the region.

“Lytton got ashes last night, I heard a rumor it went as far north as Nicomen,” said TNRD Area ‘I’ Director Tricia Thorpe on Tuesday. “I know that I saw some on my place and I’m three kilometers past the village. I think the good news is it’s headed north towards an old burn scare from about 2015-2016, that should slow it.”

As the rebuild in Lytton continues, the village is looking at FireSmart practices to help protect the community against all potential fires moving forward.

“We are doing things as a village, we are FireSmarting, we have hired a summer student to cut down weeds around the area. So we are doing what we can, we are hoping to maybe set up some sprinklers in some vulnerable areas, just to help us with FireSmarting and protecting the village,” said O’Connor.