Help Denise Rebuild Her Lytton Home
Denise is a school bus driver, volunteer fire fighter, and retired paramedic in Lytton BC. She was born and raised in Lytton and has lovingly called it home for the majority of her life. She is a jack of all trades and is always willing to help anyone in her community even if it meant postponing that home renovation project yet again. She has been through many trials in her life but has remained one of the most caring women I know. She is the epitome of resilience and independence.
On June 30th 2021, she was out with her dog Koa when she received the call for a ‘grass fire’ on the South end of the village. She put her beloved dog in the fire hall for safe keeping while she rushed to fight the fire. By the time they arrived the fire had spread West to Main Street which is where they started their fire suppression efforts. Moments later the Fire Chief discover the fire had now spread North along Fraser street and was almost upon the fire hall. He rescued Koa from the hall and passed the dog to friends who evacuated south.
While Denise continued to fight the fire a gust of wind caused a large flare that resulted in her receiving a flash burn. She continued in her efforts to save her beloved town, against all odds, and with little water pressure until her injuries made it too difficult to continue. She evacuated North to Lillooet (and later to Kamloops) where she received treatment for the 1st and 2nd degree burns to her face, neck, ears, and throat. Days later we drove down to Delta to pick up Koa from the foster family.
Denise lost her home, everything--everything but a bag of wet clothes and her fur baby--in the blaze. Unfortunately, for complex reasons, she did not have house insurance. She is devastated she could not have saved the town and, even injured, Denise is eager to return to help her fellow volunteer fire fighters who remain in the Lytton area. Though our government has promised to help rebuild homes of uninsured residents, we are not holding our breath. Denise needs your support. She deserves your support. Any little bit will help more than you can imagine.