'Most homes' in Lytton, B.C., destroyed by catastrophic fire, minister says :
More than 1,000 people fled village and surrounding area; RCMP working to find those unaccounted for.
Dozens of families forced to flee their homes as a catastrophic fire devastated a small village in B.C.'s Fraser Canyon are now working to find loved ones scattered in the evacuations, while emergency officials urgently try to account for everybody in the community.
More than 1,000 people living in and around Lytton, B.C., northeast of Vancouver, were forced to leave with little notice Wednesday. They raced out of town as smoke and flames virtually decimated the entire community in one of the most destructive fire emergencies in recent memory.
The province said Thursday the loss includes "most homes" and structures in the village, as well as the local ambulance station and RCMP detachment. The local member of parliament said 90 per cent of the village is gone.
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'The town burnt down'
Lytton Mayor Jan Polderman signed the official evacuation order at 6 p.m. PT on Wednesday. He said the village was overcome by flames before officials had the chance to co-ordinate a place for people to go, so many just started driving.
"The town burnt down," Polderman said, his voice hoarse as he spoke from a family member's home in Maple Ridge, B.C.
"I noticed some white smoke at the south end of town and within 15 to 20 minutes, the whole town was engulfed in flame."
Video captured by residents rushing out of town showed numerous buildings on fire. Charred rubble was all that remained of the town's main street.
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Officials suspect train caused fire
Hildebrand said officials have a suspicion as to how the fire started. "It's still not confirmed, but it appears a train may have sparked the blaze," he told CBC News.
B.C. Premier John Horgan said Thursday he'd heard the train theory "anecdotally" but cautioned the investigation is ongoing.
CN Rail did not report any issues to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) related to a train incident in Lytton, the agency said Thursday.
"The TSB has not received any reports that the fires in Lytton, B.C. were started by a train," said spokesperson Chris Krepski.
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