Recent fires in downtown Nanaimo have sparked a response from residents who gave voice to their fear and frustration this week.

A press conference Friday, Aug. 16, hosted by the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association, drew a small group of people who live around Victoria Road, Victoria Crescent and Nob Hill Park who spoke at a parking lot across the street from NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 historical No. 2 Fire Hall which was damaged by a suspicious fire Friday, Aug. 9. 

According to statistics compiled by NAPSA, Nanaimo Fire Rescue's fire callouts within a two-block radius of Nob Hill Park have jumped 700 per cent since 2016, when there were 14. In 2023, fire calls for the area totalled 216, and as of the end of July this year there have been 123 fires.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e standing in the epicentre of fires responded to by Nanaimo fire department B次元官网网址� Last month there were 28 fires, the second-highest number of fires in a single month for this area since records were available in 2005,B次元官网网址� said Collen Middleton, NAPSA president. B次元官网网址淪o far this month, there have already been six fires in the two-block radius around Nob Hill Park. We are on pace for more than 200 fires in these areas for a second consecutive year. Enough was enough so long ago it feels futile to keep saying it.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址 Bulletin has reached out to Nanaimo Fire Rescue has yet to confirm the figures, but residents blame the skyrocketing fire numbers on people suffering mental health problems and drug addiction who congregate in the area, and on drug decriminalization.

B次元官网网址淲hat the provincial and federal governments are letting happen on our streets, to our businesses and to our neighbourhoods is so very sad, in some cases, a crime,B次元官网网址� said Kevan Shaw, founder of the Victoria Crescent Association. B次元官网网址淟ast Friday, NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 old fire hall, just across the street, built in the late 1800s, was deliberately set on fire B次元官网网址� Someone apparently squirted or threw flammable liquid through the scissor gate, fencing that is being set up B次元官网网址� to stop vandals, or alcoves from being used for camping, defecation or drug use.B次元官网网址�

Shaw said people on the streets are suffering and some should be placed in involuntary care to be treated for mental health issues or drug detoxification.

B次元官网网址淧retty well daily, residents pray that their homes wonB次元官网网址檛 be vandalized, they wonB次元官网网址檛 be set on fire or that they wonB次元官网网址檛 be assaulted,B次元官网网址� Shaw said. 

Area resident Gina Lum said sheB次元官网网址檚 often afraid to walk outside. 

B次元官网网址淚 have lived my whole life here. I love this city. This is my home, my community,B次元官网网址� she said. 

Lum taught school in Nanaimo for 28 years and raised her children in the city, and her parents formerly owned the Modern Caf茅 on Commercial Street. 

B次元官网网址淚 have felt devastated watching what has happened to my neighbourhood in the last five years. I feel unsafe in my own garden,B次元官网网址� she said. 

Lum cited a recent incident when a man with B次元官网网址渁 large clubB次元官网网址� in front of her home smashed things as he walked up the street, and said there is drug dealing happening day and night, and arson attempts. 

She said people on the street donB次元官网网址檛 get the help they need.

B次元官网网址淲e are afraid and angry,B次元官网网址� Lum said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 see a way forward. A lot of these people are young and should have their lives ahead of them. They need to be off the streets with lots of support.B次元官网网址�

Debra Elliott said the corner of Needham Street and Victoria Road was a beautiful place to grow up, but now she canB次元官网网址檛 let her grandchildren play in her yard because of discarded needles and drug use, and people relieving themselves. She said she's even witnessed human trafficking and an incident of a victim abducted and locked in a camper in the back of a truck.

B次元官网网址淕iving them money for drugs, itB次元官网网址檚 not helping and itB次元官网网址檚 10 times worse than it ever was,B次元官网网址� Elliott said. 

Les Girard lives on Finlayson Street and said someone recently lit his fence on fire. It followed an attempt to burn his neighbourB次元官网网址檚 fence days earlier.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 continuous,B次元官网网址� Girard said. B次元官网网址淚 have kids in my neighbourhood, my neighbours have kids B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e dealing with arsons. WeB次元官网网址檙e dealing with people who are incoherent B次元官网网址� not even able to know where they are B次元官网网址�  WeB次元官网网址檝e got people who walk around indecently exposed, not even aware that their pants and their underwear are down to their knees and their privates are out in the open B次元官网网址� My neighbourB次元官网网址檚 kidB次元官网网址檚 under 10 years old and has had to witness fires, overdoses, fights, things that a child should not have to witness.B次元官网网址�

Girard said his children no longer want to play outside and his family even keeps their blinds drawn to avoid witnessing what's going on in the neighbourhood. He said people arrested for vandalism and even suspects of repeated arson are released back into the community.

B次元官网网址淢eanwhile, now me and my family are on edge because will it be another fire? Will it be our house? B次元官网网址� WhatB次元官网网址檚 going on now is out of control B次元官网网址� We need to take away, as harsh as it sounds, a lot of the safety-netting that is in place and bring forth real treatment, real justice for the criminals that get slaps on the wrist,B次元官网网址� Girard said. B次元官网网址淪omethingB次元官网网址檚 got to change. ItB次元官网网址檚 enough.B次元官网网址�