Concerns about fire hazards at homeless encampment in Sudbury
A local businessman and landlord, as well as a non-profit in downtown Sudbury, have had some troubling fire experiences this week.
One said people living in the homeless encampment in Memorial Park are lighting fires for warmth and using flammables for drug use are putting lives at risk.
Rob Cloutier is the custodian at Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin.
Cloutier said on two occasions this week, he had to ask an unwanted man to leave the basement area of the building and then made a troubling discovery.
“I discovered about a hundred matches burnt," he said. "Wooden matches and just the regular matches … And then we had boxes downstairs and we ended up having to take them and put them in. We were scared that he was going to burn the place down.”
Cloutier said he found a pipe after the man left.
“I don’t know what kind of pipe it was, but I know he must have been trying to burn something that’s why we just asked him to leave, we are just nervous, we are scared,” he said.
He said the incident was reported to police.
Just down the street, businessman and landlord Tony Monteleone said he’s worried about people lighting fires to keep warm in the alcoves and the alley near his building.
“My concern is I have 40 tenants plus guests up in this building," Monteleone said. "My concern is that they are going to burn this beautiful building historic building down.”
Monteleone said he cleans up messes in the alcoves of his building every morning and is extremely worried about the safety of everyone downtown.
“I have four commercial tenants which I am concerned for their businesses and safety," he said. "If something happens in the middle of the night – because this is when they are starting the fires -- it might be too late before the fires are noticed."
Greater Sudbury Police said it doesn't track specific reports of things like loitering, lighting fires and using flammable items.
It said those are not incidents where officers are dispatched.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.