The Saskatoon Fire Department is reminding the public how important it is to report encampments, even if it doesn’t feel like the most compassionate thing to do.
SFD Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer says there have been 328 homeless encampments dismantled this year to date. When left unchecked, these makeshift shelters can be a breeding ground for rodents, disease, and unsafe heating methods. These methods have led to 90 encampment fires in the last two months alone.
“When you go look at the encampments themselves, a lot of them are using propane heaters. They’re using butane torches.”
Raymer recalls a recent fire that happened about three weeks ago at the entrance of a tent at an encampment in the Meadowgreen Neighborhood.
“I’ll be blunt. If it hadn’t had been for it being the middle of the afternoon and an individual yelling, they (inside the tent) were sleeping, they may not have woken up. Instead of suffering some burns in the areas that they did, they may have actually perished in that fire.”
She adds that there is currently a backlog of at least 90 encampments that need to be dismantled, but that shouldn’t deter people from reporting.
“These individuals are in need of support, some outreach, and need to have that transportation or access to shelter or a warmup location.”
Raymer says the public can rest assured that once a shelter is reported, the people living inside who wish to receive help are taken to one of the city’s shelters and offered supports. If the shelters are full, the Ministry of Social Services puts them up in a hotel.
Raymer adds that the donations being distributed to homeless encampments may also be contributing to the problem. In recent months, fire department personnel have noticed an increased volume of items inside these makeshift shelters, such as clothing and blankets, which could quickly turn into a fire hazard.
She says instead of delivering goods to these shelters, individuals and organizations should report them so they can be dismantled, and the people living inside them can be given real shelter and support.
She adds that despite requests from the unhoused, a large central encampment is not the answer, and Saskatoon will not be exploring that option.
