An early-morning fire Friday at the Patricia Boulevard encampment known as Moccasin Flats destroyed a trailer and its contents but resulted in no apparent injuries.
Prince George Fire Rescue crews were called to the scene near the encampment warming shelter close to the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Ottawa Street at about 3:30 a.m. Friday and found the trailer in flames.
The fire was quickly extinguished and a search determined there were no occupants.
Damage was estimated at $50,000.
The cause of the blaze is undetermined and remains under investigation.
Since the camp was established three years ago there have been dozens of structure fires.
The city plans to close Moccasin Flats this fall and move the residents to an adjacent site off Third Avenue where BC Housing has assembled trailers that will serve as a 43-room Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) transitional shelter facility.
The site will also include an amenity trailer with a dining area and commercial kitchen, office space, a meeting room and a designated smoking area.
The provincial government is providing BC Housing $4.1 million in funding to establish the camp. City council approved $468,000 in funding to pay for sewer/water hookups and raise the ground level of the camp, which is being built on a flood plain.
To ensure the health and security of residents and the community the site will be fully fenced with controlled access and security cameras. The trailers are all equipped with a sprinkler system and all residents will have the protection afforded by fire alarms, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
