About 5 p.m. on June 30, Wes SnukwaB次元官网网址檚 phone rang.

It was his dad, in a panic.

B次元官网网址淗e started yelling on the phone, B次元官网网址榯he whole town of Lytton is being evacuatedB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 was just in disbelief. He was yelling at me on the phone, yelling at the family in the house, yelling at whoever was at the door telling them to evacuate. He was yelling at my Uncle Arnold to get in the car because he was trying to gather up things from the house,B次元官网网址� recounts Snukwa, who lives in Salmon Arm.

While they had been watching another bigger wildfire for a few days, this one was smaller and just appeared suddenly below the village.

There was no time to hook up the family trailer.

The fire was literally chasing the two vehicles containing his parents, his brother, his sister, his one uncle who lives with them and another uncle who was visiting, Snukwa said. They also picked up people along the way.

B次元官网网址淚n the truck ahead of my family there were people and dogs in the box of a truck,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey had to just jump in and get out.B次元官网网址�

SnukwaB次元官网网址檚 family are members of the Lytton First Nation. He said his reserve is right next to the village; his familyB次元官网网址檚 house is on Main Street Lytton but on the reserve side. He said the town is probably just two miles long. His family had to drive down into the village, into the black smoke, in order to escape onto Highway 12 to Lillooet.

Snukwa (who also goes by Wilson) grew up in Lytton, the only person in his family to move away.

His parents have lived in the family home for 60 years. Snukwa, 44, grew up there but moved to Salmon Arm about 16 years ago with his spouse Kristine Wilson. She was raised in Salmon Arm and wanted to return because she was pregnant.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just heart-breaking, just terrible thinking about our family home where we grew up, our neighbours, our aunties, our cousins. To know their houses are totally demolished. Literally our whole reserve is flattened.B次元官网网址�

He said looking at all the photos Facebooked by those families is unreal.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 believe it, just chimneys are standing.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 not certain his familyB次元官网网址檚 home was burned to the ground, but he thinks it probably was.

Snukwa is left feeling helpless, so far away in Salmon Arm.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 even go there, the three highways are cut off,B次元官网网址� he adds.

He pointed out while some accounts said only 250 people were evacuated from Lytton, that doesnB次元官网网址檛 include the more than 1,000 people from the adjoining Lytton First Nation.

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SnukwaB次元官网网址檚 parents stayed at the Lillooet Rec Centre the night of the evacuation, but then had to go to Merritt where they slept in the car. Accommodation was found for them in Kelowna so thatB次元官网网址檚 where they went July 2. He said people he knows are spread out in Logan Lake, Merritt, Chilliwack, Hope, Lillooet and up and down the Fraser Valley.

B次元官网网址淓veryone that I know and am worried about is accounted for.B次元官网网址�

Snukwa said he is so thankful for the surrounding communities, for donations and for help.

B次元官网网址淔or taking my family in and giving my parents food and clothes and water and someplace to gather. IB次元官网网址檓 so sorry my aunties and cousins and childhood friends, IB次元官网网址檓 so sorry their houses have burned down, with all their memories.B次元官网网址�

As for whatB次元官网网址檚 next: B次元官网网址淲e all have to connect and hug each other and talk. Everyone wants to go home. But what are they going to go home to? We donB次元官网网址檛 know what theyB次元官网网址檙e going home toB次元官网网址� I think my sister said it right. You can rebuild but you canB次元官网网址檛 get back the comfort of your childhood home.B次元官网网址�

Asked about donations, Snukwa said he puts a lot of trust in the Savage Society which has set up a GoFundMe page, with donations going directly to support victims. If youB次元官网网址檇 like to donate, go to: .

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