Residents of Lytton got their first look Friday at the destruction left behind after fire tore through the village last week, destroying many buildings but leaving some remarkably untouched.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) arranged a series of bus tours for residents of the village on Friday, and one for reporters.
Blackened rubble of what used to be homes, and piles of ash is most of what's left, with the exception of a fire pristine buildings that were spared by the fire.
Despite the in-tact appearance, Debbie Sell, information officer for the TNRD, said even residents who have homes still standing won't be able to return for quite a while.
"There's a number of things that will have to happen." Sell said.
"There's a lot of cleanup that has to first occur, their power has to be restored, as well as water, sewer — all of that infrastructure was completely taken out. So all of that has to happen before anyone can even think about starting to return."
Fire struck Lytton on June 30 at about 5 p.m. Residents have said they had only moments to flee, many with a few belongings and the clothes on their backs.
Since then, officials have said about 90 per cent of the village was destroyed.
Evacuees from the village have spread out across B.C., with many in Kamloops, Merritt and Chilliwack.
The Transportation Safety Board said Friday it will investigate the blaze, which some believe to have been caused by a passing train.
