Firefighters battle blaze at scene of winter camp explosion

Published Oct 17, 2023 • 2 minute read

Regina Fire and Protective Services respond to a fire at a makeshift homelessness camp off Halifax Street on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

A plume of thick, black smoke was visible over Regina’s downtown Tuesday afternoon as emergency crews responded to a fire in a vacant lot between two homes on Halifax Street.

Regina Fire and Protective Services responded to a fire in a tent encampment on the 1800 block of Halifax Street shortly after 12:30 p.m.

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“One patient treated by fire crews has been transported to hospital by EMS,” Regina Fire said in a post to X platform, formerly Twitter.

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The fire was reported under control within a couple hours and additional searches determined no further injuries. Investigation is ongoing.

“Obviously our hearts went out because at the end of the day that is someone’s home, regardless if it’s a tent or not,” said Tyler Gelsinger, executive director of the nearby Carmichael Outreach.

Gelsinger said they were doing lunch service when multiple explosions occurred. He heard the commotion outside and went to find the makeshift encampment on fire.

“There were multiple propane tanks and gas canisters. There were a few big ones, a few little ones. It was very similar to the last (fire) that happened last winter,” he said.

The same lot was the scene of a similar emergency on a night in December 2022. Nearby witnesses at Carmichael Outreach said a worker heard a “boom or a bang” around 5:45 p.m. and soon after, they saw smoke. No one was injured.

Regina Fire and Protective Services respond to a fire at a makeshift homelessness camp off Halifax Street on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

Gelsinger said as winter approaches, encampment fires could be more common.

“It’s not even that cold out yet, but people already have fires going,” he said.

“At night, that little chilliness when you’re out there seven days a week and it’s a little wet out one day, the cold stays with you.”

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Gelsinger hopes to see more done by the city this winter when it comes to warming centres and supports for those who need shelter.

“Hopefully they have a good plan this year going into winter. Last year the bus was there, but the need is still greater than what was provided last year.”

Fire safety concerns also brought an end to a tent camp that stood in front of Regina City Hall for more than 40 days over the summer. Up to 76 individuals had been staying in the camp at times, but the emergency shelter downtown had just 40 beds.

In September, Regina city council voted against three motions addressing the houselessness crisis at a tense meeting on Wednesday after hearing several community delegates call for more supports.

The submission put forward recommendations that included council calling on provincial and federal governments to contribute immediate emergency funding to address houselessness, as well as procedures to address encampments.

The majority of councillors voted against declaring a houselessnes crisis, which mayor Sandra Masters called “performative.”

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