Sudbury fire department adds second burn barrel at tent encampment as open-air fires increase downtown - CBC
Crews are responded to an average of two open-air fires a day in October according to the City of Greater Sudbury. (Faith Greco/CBC)Social SharingSudbury’s deputy fire chief said unauthorized open-air burning in the downtown is growing as the weather cools, prompting the Greater Sudbury Fire Services (GSFS) to authorize a second burn barrel at a downtown encampment.
Deputy chief Nathan Melin said, since mid-September, unsheltered people have been lighting fires in the vestibules, and entryways of downtown properties.
According to numbers provided by the city, GSFS responded to two incidents for either open-air burning or a no-loss outdoor fire in each 24-hour shift during the month of October across the city. Of the 65 incidents last month, the city confirmed 26 were within the city core.
So far, Melin said firefighters have been able to contain the flames. But he said he is concerned about the risk, considering buildings downtown are old and close together.
Tent encampment fires in Sudbury, Ont., a concern for firefighters
“If a fire was to start in a vacant lot or vestibule open area, it could definitely quickly threaten the adjacent building or business, residence if there's occupants in it, as well as our emergency responders,” he said.
Melin said firefighters are trying to educate people about the dangers of open-air burning and directing them to safe housing and places where they can stay warm.
He said some of the unauthorized fires are being lit in the downtown tent encampment.
Deputy fire chief Nathan Melin says fire crews are responding to open-air burning in the entries of downtown businesses as the temperatures drop. (Submitted/City of Greater Sudbury)
The city had already approved one barrel at the encampment, and now another has been approved with the city is providing the wood for it.
“This is one mitigating measure to allow these open-air burn barrels so that it would prevent individuals from lighting smaller fires in order to provide themselves warmth, or for cooking purposes, within the encampment area,” said Melin.
The executive director of Downtown Sudbury said there have been three fires that have been “reasonably concerning.”
Jeff MacIntyre said he's aware that open-air burning is happening throughout the downtown, and that there needs to be a balance between safety and the needs of people trying to stay warm.
He said the business association is trying out a pilot program that allows the police to ask people to move along from a business’ doorstep without the property owner having to register a complaint.
Participating businesses have a sticker in their windows signifying they’re part of the trespass program.
“It's not like a guarantee that police are going to come, and maintain nobody staying in your frontage. But it does help them as a tool when they see something unsafe happening, that it gives them the permission to move somebody along,” said MacIntyre.
Downtown Sudbury has a new pilot program where businesses can post these stickers allowing police to ask people to move along from their properties without them having to file a complaint. (Submitted/Jeff MacIntyre)
He said it’s an unfortunate reality, and Sudbury businesses are not alone.
“It's frustrating,” he said. “It's something we talked about to downtowns across Ontario and we're all copying each other right now with programs like this because it's not necessarily a Sudbury-focused issue. It's something that's happening in every community and it's becoming more and more of an issue.”
However, MacIntyre said he’s optimistic that work continues with other levels of government on what he calls a “functional solution” on housing to meet the needs of everyone.
MacIntyre was just elected as a councillor in Ward 12 in Greater Sudbury, giving him a voice at the municipal level in matters affecting the downtown.
Kate Rutherford is a reporter with CBC News in Sudbury, covering northern Ontario. News tips can be sent to kate.rutherford@cbc.ca
