Nanaimo Fire Rescue were on scene early Wednesday morning after reports of a fire from an encampment were received just after 7 a.m. (submitted photo/Lisa Harvey)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FIRE CALLOUT

Second encampment fire in as many days chars Nanaimo’s Bowen Park

Aug 17, 2022 | 9:46 AM

NANAIMO — For the second time in as many days, local fire crews have responded to a sizeable fire at Bowen Park.

Two engines and a water tender were used to douse an encampment fire, towards the north end of the park near the sports fields, which sparked on Wednesday, Aug. 17 just after 7 a.m.

Assistant fire chief Stu Kenning told NanaimoNewsNOW the fire was around 50 by 100 feet in size when crews arrived.

“There was a bit of a water issue because there’s no hydrants down in the park that far so we had to bring in the water tender and once we had the water tender there, the fire went out pretty easily.”

No-one was around when firefighters arrived and no injuries were reported.

changing rooms

New dressing room under construction at Oceanside Place

13h ago

Parksville trail

Parksville trail project linking Community Park and Englishman River Estuary to get underway

16h ago

Best in Sport

Nanaimo celebrates Sport Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame inductions

Feb 21, 2026

Kenning said it was a fairly standard encampment with multiple tents, tarps and belongings found on site.

Two engines and a water tender were used to douse an encampment fire early Wednesday morning in Bowen Park. (submitted photo/Lisa Harvey)

Wednesday morning’s incident follows another encampment fire on Tuesday, Aug. 16 which resulted in a plume of black smoke being visible through much of Nanaimo.

Kenning said responses in the park are often challenging for firefighters.

“It’s just from access from the road and the most effective access to get our hose down. There are trails to get to these encampments but the most effective way to get the water from the street to the encampment is what we find challenging.”

It was a busy morning for Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews, who also responded to a grass fire at the Third Street Park near Derby Pl. just before 4 a.m.

Kenning said a strip of grass was alight and was “quite spectacular” but was easily put out.

An investigation into the fire continues, but it’s not considered suspicious.

A burnt strip of grass in the Third St. Park was quickly doused by Nanaimo Fire Rescue early Wednesday morning (submitted photo)

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @Nanaimonewsnow