The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has concluded its investigation into allegations the wildfire that devastated the town of Lytton BC was sparked by a passing Canadian National train.
Shortly after the fire people came forward alleging they saw evidence of fire near the rails just minutes before the BC town of Lytton BC was engulfed in flames.
"The TSB investigation has not identified any link between railway operations and the fire. Further effort, beyond a Class 5 TSB investigation, is not warranted unless new information establishes that a TSB reportable event (i.e. an accident or incident involving rolling stock) occurred.
The wildfire remains under investigation by BC Wildfire Service. The RCMP is conducting a preliminary inquiry to determine the need for a parallel criminal investigation."
Many residents of Lytton are skeptical of the report's conclusions. They say the TSB never consulted any of the townspeople who allege they witnessed the fire's ignition.
They point to allegations the wildfire was first reported "near the Canadian National (CN) right-of-way in the vicinity of Mile 98.14 of the CN Ashcroft Subdivision, just west of the town of Lytton," (TSB).
A resident of Lytton has started a class-action suit against the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways alleging CN or CP rail caused or contributed to the wildfire.
In Canada, you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.