B.C. Supreme Court certifies class action lawsuit that Lytton wildfire was caused by train

The B.C. Supreme Court has certified a class action lawsuit brought by Lytton residents who allege the devastating 2021 wildfire that destroyed their community was caused by operations of Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP). The representative plaintiffs, Carel Moiseiwitsch and Jordan Spinks, both suffered property loss and mental trauma as a result of the fire. Spinks, a member of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, also experienced job loss and disruption to traditional hunting and fishing. While a previous lawsuit was refused certification, and a 2022 Transportation Safety Board report found no evidence of a train-sparked fire, the court has allowed the class action to proceed. CN Rail expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that multiple expert agencies have found no connection between the fire and railway operations and they are confident a trial will reach the same conclusion. The Lytton wildfire, which occurred during the 2021 heat dome, killed two people, displaced 300 residents, and caused an estimated $102 million in insured losses. Rebuilding efforts have been slow, taking two years for the first home to begin construction, and prompting frustration among residents.

(Source：Global News)