A B.C. Supreme Court judge has certified a class-action lawsuit alleging railway operations sparked the 2021 Lytton fire that destroyed most of the village.
B.C. Judge Allows Class Action Alleging Railroads Sparked Lytton Fire
Case Moves Forward After Years of Dispute
A British Columbia Supreme Court ruling released Tuesday has certified a class-action lawsuit against Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN) railways. The decision follows allegations that railway activity contributed to the devastating June 2021 fire that destroyed nearly all of Lytton, B.C. Justice Ward Branch found “some basis in fact” supporting claims that railway operations may have ignited the blaze, allowing the litigation to proceed.
Community Destroyed During Record Heat
The fire erupted at the height of the 2021 heat dome, just one day after Lytton recorded a Canadian all-time high temperature of 49.6 C. Within hours, most of the village was reduced to ashes, and two people were killed. The ruling notes that CP and CN tracks run parallel through the town, forming the backdrop for plaintiffs’ allegations that passing locomotives played a role in the ignition.
Plaintiffs Seeking Accountability and Compensation
The certified action is led by representative plaintiff Carel Moiseiwitsch, whose home and home-based IT and design business were destroyed. She told the court she was displaced for an extended period and continues to suffer trauma from escaping the blaze and losing her home, cat, and livelihood.
Another representative plaintiff, Jordan Spinks of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, alleges the fire forced him from his community for several months, cost him his job, and caused lasting impacts on his mental health.
Scope of the Class and Who Is Included
The newly certified class covers residents, business owners, and community members who experienced personal or property losses due to the 2021 fire. Subclasses include family members of those who died, along with individuals whose property losses were not covered by insurance. Several separate lawsuits had been filed over the past three years—including actions by First Nations and individual claimants—but a competing proposed class action was previously denied certification in 2023.
What the Ruling Means for the Next Stage
With certification granted, the lawsuit now moves into the evidence-gathering phase, where experts and investigators will attempt to determine the cause of the fire and whether railway operations were responsible. The ruling does not establish liability but confirms the case meets the legal threshold to proceed as a class action. CN and CP have not yet filed detailed responses to the newly certified class proceeding.
Long Road to Recovery Continues for Lytton
More than three years after the fire, reconstruction in Lytton has been slow, and many residents remain displaced. The class-action decision marks a significant step for survivors seeking answers and compensation as they continue to rebuild their lives and community.
