City to seek enforcement for tent city Fire Order

STATEMENT - Distributed July 31, 2018 12:15 PM

Legal counsel for the City of Nanaimo has filed an application in the Supreme Court of British Columbia to enforce conditions of the Fire Order placed on the occupants of tent city. Occupants continue to remain in non-compliance of the interim order made by Mr. Justice Skolrood.

The interim order made by Mr. Justice Skolrood requires the occupants at tent city to comply with a number of fire and life-safety requirements placed by the Provincial Fire Commissioner within one week from July 18, 2018. Despite numerous discussions with occupants, fire inspectors have found that the majority continue to be in non-compliance of the order. The fire department has also had reports of two fires at this location. The most recent being a fire reported in one of the porta-potties this past weekend.

If approved, the enforcement application will give the City the authority to remove any structures, vehicles and objects that are in contravention of the order. It will also give the City the ability to seek the assistance of the RCMP to ensure compliance, if necessary. The application is set to be heard before a judge on August 13, 2018.

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