Despite ongoing efforts to clean up the tent city on the courthouse lawn, an inspection by B.C.’s fire commissioner has determined that fire hazards in the homeless camp remain high and endanger lives.
Residents of the tent city had been ordered to comply with the B.C. Fire Safety Act by Friday. It’s not clear why the inspection took place Tuesday ahead of that deadline.
In his report, fire commissioner Bob Cooper wrote: “Substantial fire risks remain, with propane bottles, gasoline cans and the hoarding of combustible materials throughout the camp. Structures are still larger and flow together due to flammable tarpaulins, with little or no separation between the tents.”
Several orders have been issued to the camp, and the province has filed an injunction to dismantle the camp based on fire and safety hazards.
Tent city residents Ana McBee, Doug Swait and Chrissy Brett have filed a petition to B.C. Supreme Court to stop the injunction and dismantling of the camp, with the help of lawyers and Together Against Poverty Society.
TAPS lawyer Catherine Boies Parker will appear before B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson Friday in Vancouver, arguing for the fire commissioner’s order to be suspended.
On Monday and Tuesday, Boies Parker and Jasmine MacAdam, another lawyer working on behalf of campers, will appear before Hinkson in Victoria to oppose an injunction to dismantle the camp.
Hinkson rejected a previous application by the province for an injunction to clear the courthouse lawn on the grounds that homeless people had nowhere else to sleep.
On June 15, B.C. Housing Minister Rich Coleman announced the province’s plans to provide 140 units of long-term supportive housing at the former Central Care Home at 844 Johnson St. The spaces are expected to be available by the end of July. Another 50 units are in the offing, Coleman said.
TAPS advocate Stephen Portman has said that moving people out of tent city before housing is available poses a danger to campers and nearby neighbours.
