Saint John asking people sleeping in wooded areas to move out amid dry weather

Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon talks about the city’s plan to move homeless encampments for wooded areas.

Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon said the city is asking people who are sleeping in tents in Rockwood Park to move to safer spots amid ongoing dry weather that has led to burn bans.

Earlier this month, the Government of New Brunswick issued a provincewide burn ban and since then Reardon said Saint John firefighters have responded to 30 small fires, most of which were at encampments.

“Last year (Saint John Fire) was at 434 encampment fires,” Reardon told CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis on Tuesday.

Saint John has closed the hiking and biking trails at Rockwood Park and Little River Reservoir amid the dry conditions.

“Recreational activities in parks and trails that are in densely wooded areas provide an even higher risk for wildfires,” the city’s website says. “These areas are extremely dry right now and the chance of even the smallest spark resulting in a fire is very high.

“Something as large as a campfire, or as small as a cigarette being discarded on dry grass can have devastating consequences in these conditions.”

Reardon said officials have found five or six tents in Rockwood, which is one of the largest urban parks in Canada.

“They’re going to move them out to a safer spot because if there was an issue, it would not be good,” she said. “We’re working with our non-profits. Looking at this from a risk management perspective and we’ll move them out. Looking at spaces where we can put them around the city, areas that obviously aren’t treed.”

The city is currently not imposing fines for the restrictions on parks and trails, but the Saint John Fire Department can issue fines for outdoor fires that range from $140 to $2,100.

“It’s an unusual stretch of weather for Saint John,” Reardon said. “We’re still asking you to be cognizant of things that can create a spark.”

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