Yellowknife RCMP is currently looking into a fire that occurred at a homeless encampment in the city on Thursday night. An email from the RCMP to CBC News confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. The encampment, located next to Yellowknife’s Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, was filled with clusters of jerry cans and propane tanks.
The most recent fire at the encampment occurred around 11:30 on Thursday night, resulting in the destruction of a tent and a burn area measuring 10 feet by 10 feet. Fortunately, no injuries were reported by both the police and the city officials.
Bobby Villeneuve, a resident of the encampment, mentioned that although he was not present during the incident, the fire occurred just a few meters away from his living area. Stressing the importance of caution, Villeneuve highlighted the need for careful placement of potential hazards like propane tanks to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This is not the first fire at the encampment, as a similar incident took place in October last year when a tent caught fire while the occupant was trying to keep warm. Concerns about fire risks and potential accidents within encampments have been raised by leaders and advocates in Yellowknife. Villeneuve emphasized the need for caution, especially during the upcoming winter when using propane tanks for heating, as the continuous heat source increases the risk of fires.
He also mentioned that municipal enforcement will conduct regular inspections at the encampment to ensure the safety of the residents.