The Lytton Village retained the IBI Group (IBI) to assess the nature and extent of environmental impacts resulting from the wildfire, so that waste materials and contaminated soils can be classified for off-site disposal at a suitably approved receiving facility. IBI has previously assessed and cleaned-up similar contamination in a remote community called Klemtu, located on the west coast of BC and is also currently assisting the Lytton First Nation to clean up reserve lands adversely impacted by the wildfire.
When materials in buildings, vehicles, garages, sheds etc, are burned at high temperatures they release contaminants into the environment. These may include metals (such as lead from paint and zinc in metal siding), harmful combustion by-products, often found in soot and ash, asbestos fibres and silica dust. These contaminants are typically released below or close to the debris field surrounding the burned structure or item. However, in some cases the firestorm and subsequent winds may have spread the contaminants some distance away from the original burned material.
The following image provides a pictorial representation of the nature and location of contaminated materials that may be present on a property destroyed during the wildfire:
The soil sampling results have confirmed that the firestorm and/or wind has caused contamination to spread outside of areas with obvious burned debris or burned grasses and vegetation. For example, even though no structures were burned at the Chief Splintum Heritage Park, soil samples collected from this parcel of land contained copper, lead and zinc above applicable environmental standards.
Once sufficient samples have been collected and analyzed to determine how widespread and how deep the contamination extends, the contaminated soil will be removed by excavation and transported to an approved landfill site.
To ensure that all contaminated soil can be removed, it is necessary to demolish the
damaged structures, remove all the burned debris and any walls, fencing, plants and trees that remain within areas where contaminated soils have been identified.
We recognize that the removal and loss of these familiar features is very difficult, however, it is necessary to ensure that all contamination is removed.
Most of the burned building materials have been sampled and approximately 60% of the initial soil samples have been collected to classify waste debris and contaminated soils for disposal. Work has also started south of First Street to excavate and remove contaminated soils, which will be transported off-site after review and approval by the project archaeologists.
Once all contaminated soil is believed to have been removed from a property, additional soil samples will be collected from the excavation floors and limits (walls) to confirm that all contamination has been removed. These results will provide assurance to land-owners that soil remaining on the property will meet applicable environmental standards for continued residential or commercial land use, as is applicable.