Lawsuit Claims CN, CP Railways at Fault for Sparking Fire That Wiped out B.C. Town

A Canadian Pacific freight train travels on tracks covered with fire retardant in an area burned by a wildfire above the Thompson River near Lytton, B.C., on Aug. 15, 2021. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER—A proposed class-action lawsuit alleges Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways caused or contributed to the wildfire that destroyed the Village of Lytton, B.C.

The B.C. Supreme Court statement of claim filed Wednesday alleges the fire was set off by heat or sparks emanating from a CP freight train operated by CN employees on tracks owned by Canadian National.