A large encampment went up in flames on Highway 97 at the entrance to Penticton on Saturday.
The encampment near the Redwing housing has been steadily growing in size over the past month and a half and nearby residents have been sharing concerns it would catch fire.
On Oct. 28, at 5:40 p.m. Penticton Fire and Penticton Indian Band Fire Department were dispatched for flames showing at the homeless encampment on Highway 97, north of the Redwing complex.
Penticton Engine 204 responded with four firefighters and observed a column of black smoke coming from the encampment. On arrival, crews encountered a 40 foot by 30 foot fire in camp and surrounding trees. Penticton fire crews were able to quickly prevent the fire from spreading, and command was transferred to Penticton Indian Band Fire Department.
According to Penticton Fire Department, all camp occupants were evacuated from the area and there were no injuries reported, said Penticton firefighter Ryan Hvidston.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This encampment was the talk of a recent Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board meeting, with concerns that the camp on Crown land posed a fire danger.
“We have an active encampment that’s been building up on the north side of Highway 97 just south of Sage Mesa, and the immediate concern for the community is the fire risk,” said West Bench director Riley Gettens at the October meeting. “So over the past few days, I think I’ve probably talked to about seven different entities, and nobody has ownership of this.”
Gettens noted that she had spoken with the RDOS’ CAO and bylaw department, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure given the camp’s location on crown land adjacent to the highway, and with the RCMP.
Interim Supt. Bob Vatamniuck of the RCMP noted that officers have limited power as long as nothing criminal, such as stolen property or violence, is occurring at such camps.
“I will say the unhoused are very clever people in that they find these Bermuda Triangles that have these jurisdictional conundrums,” said Vatamniuck.
READ MORE: Encampments in jurisdictional ‘Bermuda Triangles’ pose fire danger