Prince George homeless camp fires possibly linked to criminal retribution: report

A number of suspicious fires in a court-protected homeless encampment in Prince George, B.C., are possibly connected to criminal retaliation within the camp, according to a city staff report to mayor and council.

It also says homeless people living outside the Lower Patricia Boulevard Encampment (LPBE), also known as Moccasin Flats, consistently report they are afraid to shelter in the camp because of alleged drug and sex trafficking.

"Individuals also shared a belief that many of the fires in the LPBE are arsons occurring as retribution (outstanding debts and punishing those who speak to the police to report illegal activity as [an] example)," reads the report. "These comments have been referred to the RCMP."

Seven shelters — tiny homes and tents — were destroyed by fires over a two-week period from May 27 to June 10. All but one of the fires was described as "odd" and "abnormal" by Prince George Fire Rescue Chief Cliff Warner.

"It's almost a fire every second day, give or take," he said at the time.

A city official believes the encampment's legal status has led to entrenched drug activity and violence.

"What people in the encampment are telling the outreach workers who are working on a day-to-day basis with them [is] that if they can't meet a drug debt, then perhaps the place where they were living is firebombed or perhaps people are being assaulted," said Charlotte Peters, manager of Bylaw Services.

Peters said between 45 and 70 people are sheltering outside the LPBE nightly, either because they fear for their safety inside the camp or they're not eligible to enter a shelter.

"What we're ending up with right now is a situation where there's less people in the encampment and more people scattered throughout Prince George," she said.

Shortly after the LPBE was established in 2021, the city filed an application in B.C. Supreme Court to have it demolished.

The judge ruled against the city because there was not adequate shelter or affordable housing spaces elsewhere in the community to justify forcing people to leave the camp. The ruling was upheld in a second court case.

Coun. Trudy Klassen said when it comes to shelters, the city operates with what B.C. Housing provides.

"Our hands are somewhat tied," she said. "None of us want people to be living in makeshift homes in Moccasin Flats ... I think probably the biggest thing we can do is bring attention to what's going on and continue to work with the RCMP and with our bylaws staff in order to mitigate the situation because it shouldn't be like this."

The report to council was based on information gathered by overnight patrols organized by the city and Prince George Fire Rescue to deter fires and other nuisance crimes. 

In a list of recommendations, the report suggests council may meet with B.C. Housing to find out why so many people are banned from local shelters, and request the provincial housing agency "do all it can to extend shelter offers to those at the LPBE as reports suggest it is an unsafe place for the unhoused to shelter."