Fire at Maple Ridge homeless camp destroys tents, structures
No injuries after blaze at Anita Place, but police searching for at least 1 resident
Maple Ridge first responders were called to another fire at a homeless camp overnight.
Residents said it's the second fire at the Anita Place camp this week, since officials with the City of Maple Ridge seized propane tanks, heaters and barbecues last weekend as part of a court injunction.
The fire reportedly started in a tent around 2 a.m. PT Friday, before spreading to some other structures near the back of the camp on 222nd Street.
Ted Hajdu, who works regularly with people at the camp, was at the scene after the fire was contained. He said these fires are often a result of people trying to stay warm without the sources of heat that were recently seized.
'They have to resort to setting fires'
"These people won't have any measure of staying warm … they won't let them have electricity," Hajdu said.
"They have to resort to setting fires in the warming tent to stay warm. That's not right."
The camp was raided over the weekend by city officials saying there were several fire hazards in the camp.
RCMP say they don't believe anyone was injured in this latest fire but they are searching for one resident who was believed to be living in the tent where the fire started.
The exact cause is under investigation.