Tents, possessions destroyed in fire at encampment in Hamilton's J.C. Beemer Park
CBC
Tents were destroyed and possessions burned after an early morning fire tore through an encampment at Hamilton's J.C. Beemer Park on Wednesday.
People living in the park were woken up around 6 a.m. by a fire that "devastatingly destroyed the homes and belongings" of several people, said Vic Wojciechowska, a member of the Hamilton Encampment Support Network (HESN).
Police and fire fighters were called to the park just before 6 a.m. and found two or three tents had been damaged, according to Const. Krista-Lee Ernst.
The fire was not criminal, she added.
Ernst said fewer than five people were displaced and members of the social navigator program, which includes police and paramedics who work with vulnerable populations, had secured lodging for those affected.
"We are working diligently with those who were affected," said Ernst.
But Wojciechowska said the options that were offered were beds at a crisis centre or in hotels.
"No real permanent housing options [were] offered," they said, adding the encampment residents had not been "given any sort of timeline or idea for home long these options would be available to them."
HESN said eviction notices had also been issued to everyone staying in the park. Supporters rallied there Wednesday afternoon to try to stop evictions.
"There are still several encampment residents here whose homes and belongings are still in tact and in perfect shape," said Wojciechowska.
They called for the encampment residents to have more time to take stock of their belongings and figure out next steps.
"They're still processing the events of the morning … it's obviously very traumatic to wake up to a huge fire."
Encampments have been a subject of much debate in Hamilton in recent months.
Groups, including HESN, have pushed for tents not to be torn down because of a lack of shelter space and affordable housing.
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