Firefighters responded to Dougall Avenue homeless encampment 90 times this year
Every year, Windsor firefighters report to hundreds of fires at homeless encampments across the city, but some stand out with more calls for service than others.
Chief fire prevention officer Mike Coste said the encampment near Dougall and E.C. Row Expressway is one of those frequent locations.
“Behind the ambulance station on Dougall Avenue, I know we've responded there over 90 times,” said Coste.
Another location firefighters get called to often is the encampment in the 400 block of Crawford Avenue.Homeless encampment in Windsor, Ont. behind Crawford Avenue on Aug. 1, 2024. (Stefanie Masotti/CTV News Windsor)
On Aug. 26, Windsor Fire dispatched three fire trucks, one chief, and between 12-14 firefighters for a report of smoke in the 400 block of Crawford Avenue.
“We don’t know if it's the house is on fire,” said Coste. “We don't know if it's the garage on fire. We don't know if it's a shed on fire.”
Firefighters arrived to find a fire behind the houses on Crawford Avenue at the homeless encampment. Similar fires occurred on a weekly basis, according to the fire department.
“Our resources are being stretched,” said Coste, who admitted he doesn’t have a solution to address mental health, addiction and homelessness across the city. “We're grasping at straws. We're trying to put a Band-Aid here, a Band-Aid here.”
He confirms all agencies are working together to address the issues.
“Windsor police are involved. Bylaw is involved. It's not just a city Windsor thing. It's all over the province,” said Coste.
He is reminding the public of the importance to have working smoke alarms and CO detectors in your home along with an escape plan for your family and if you see a fire, don't put it out.
“Call the authorities. Call the police. Call fire. Will come and take care of it,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada, pilots reach tentative deal, averting work stoppage
Passengers with plans to fly on Canada's largest airline can breathe a sigh of relief after Air Canada said Sunday it has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing more than 5,200 of its pilots.
What are your rights as a neighbour in Canada?
If you have beef with your neighbour and you feel it's gone too far, what should you do? A personal injury lawyer has some advice.
Hundreds of wolves, bears and coyotes killed in attempt to help Quebec caribou
In recent years, hundreds of wolves, bears, coyotes and other animals have been killed under Quebec government programs to help the caribou survive. However, the Environment Ministry does not know whether these controversial measures aimed at controlling cervid predation are effective.
Carbon pricing to cause economic 'nuclear winter,' Poilievre tells his MPs
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre signaled the Liberals' carbon price and the economy will remain his prime target when Parliament resumes this week.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
'The Life of Chuck' wins the TIFF People's Choice Award
'The Life of Chuck,' an offbeat film by writer-director Mike Flanagan, wins the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
New evidence upends contentious Easter Island theory, scientists say
Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, never experienced a ruinous population collapse, according to an analysis of ancient DNA from 15 former inhabitants of the remote island in the Pacific Ocean.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.