By Ian Holmes

Frustration heats up after fire at Nanaimo homeless encampment

Oct 4, 2017 | 1:31 PM

NANAIMO — A small early morning brush fire off Albert St. is by no means an isolated incident.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue captain Ennis Mond said crews responded to the fire down an embankment from Albert near Kennedy St. just after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“We don’t know exactly what started the fire,” Mond said of the blaze at the apparent homeless encampment. “They could have been having a small campfire to stay warm or cook their food. When our fire crews arrived there was nobody there.”

Mond said garbage left behind was on fire and quickly doused by their members.

“Apparently two small explosions were heard in what we believe to be small propane cylinders or paint cans.”

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Mond said cool and damp conditions helped prevent the fire from spreading.

Mond said there have been “multiple” small fires in different parts of the bush bordered by Albert and Pine Streets over the past month.

NanaimoNewsNOW visited the charred site of the early Wednesday fire above Cat Stream. The blaze damaged about 25 sq/ft of low-lying brush, a few small trees and torched personal belongings and garbage. There are numerous hybrid trails in the area and several visible signs of homeless encampments.

Concerned area resident Thomas Warden, who reported the fire, said squatters have been a problem in the area for years.

Warden would like to see the City reclaim the land and turn it into a usable walking path. “Instead of letting it go and have it be overrun by not just the homeless, but people with mental health and addictions problems, who have repeatedly caused fires in the hard to access area.”

Warden said he’s lived in the immediate area for the past 10 years and nothing has been done to address the disorder.

“The occupants drag all types of items into the bushes and set up little camps, even fortifying with barbed wire.”

The City of Nanaimo confirmed it owns most of the undeveloped lot, which is not parkland, although parks staff do maintain the site.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes