Residents of Rose Valley are annoyed and concerned that unattended fires continue to be sparked behind their homes on Horizon Drive in the Keefe Creek area.
Thursday night, April 24, West 麻豆精选 fire crews responded to a small blaze in the area and according to Fire Chief Jason Brolund, there were signs of camping in the area but no one was present at the time.
鈥淭he cause of the fire appears to be related to cooking,鈥� said Brolud, who turned the file over to RCMP and the City of West 麻豆精选 bylaw.
At the end of March, Horizon Drive resident Paul Sawetzki took to a community Facebook group to report that he had noticed smoke coming from the hills in a ravine behind his home.
鈥淚 went to check it out and it didn鈥檛 look like a very big fire and came across a few homeless encampments at the bottom and boats load (sic) of trash. Living so close to this, I was totally unaware,鈥� said Sawetski on social media.
Other residents told Black Press Media that they believed there are several people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who are living in the area.
These homeowners have expressed deep concern for the unattended fires behind their homes, as wildfire season approaches and temperatures begin to climb.
Some neighbours also reported having their propane tanks stolen, and that tanks were discovered at the encampment discovered by Sawetzk.
Open burning in the Central Okanagan, for which a permit is needed, ends April 30.
Black Press Media has reached out to RCMP and city bylaw for comment.
