Some of those living at Belle Park had their belongings moved Thursday as city staff moved in to clean up following recent fires at the site.
Rick Sero lives at the camp and says the fires — which happened in the span of 24 hours — were all accidental.
He said two happened at unoccupied sites while people were moving out and the third happened at an occupied site when someone kicked over a wood-burning heater while they were sleeping.
“Thank god no one got hurt, that’s the main thing” he told Global News as city crews moved in Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate that there was three of them so quickly, fires are expected from time to time due to the fact of being out here and using wood or propane or whatever it is to stay warm.
“But unfortunately there were some that were accidental — it was just misfortune that it happened.”
The city says the movement of structures at the encampment is only temporary and is not a result of enforcement of the city’s Parks By-Law.
“City of Kingston and Kingston Fire & Rescue staff have determined a clean-up of debris, garbage and other combustibles at the site is required to address health and safety concerns,” the city said in a media release.
“City staff are coordinating with Addictions & Mental Health Services and Homebase Housing to assist with supporting campers affected by the clean-up.”
The city says street outreach, housing first, and safety and engagement staff would also be on site during the clean up.
‘We don’t have much of a choice’
Sero said several people have been affected by the fires and the city’s efforts to clean up.
Since the fires city staff and fire officials have come through and removed propane and wood-burning heat sources, he added.
Sero said when he asked what he should do to stay warm, he was told to go to a shelter.
But that’s something he can others can’t do because they have dogs, so they’ve been left to use other means to stay warm including burning candles, hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.
“That in itself is risky,” he acknowledged. “But without the propane heaters and things we don’t have much of a choice.
“When you need to get warm you’ve got to get warm, and that’s what it boils down to.”
The fate of those living at the site has been up in the air for some time.
In November 2023 a court case between the city and the campers debating the constitutionality of them staying there ended with the Ontario Superior Court ruling against eviction.
The decision laid out that the bylaw banning overnight camping was not constitutional and violated the campers’ Section 7 Charter right to life, liberty and security.
The matter remains before the courts, however, as the respondents filed a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal in December 2023.
On Thursday the city said it would be providing those affected by the cleanup with free bus passes, Tim Hortons gift cards and a truck to help them move their belongings out of the cleanup area.
Storage bins are also being made available for campers who want to safely store their belongings during the effort.
The work is expected to continue over a few days, depending on the weather, the city said.
–With files from Paul Soucy