OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter in response to an article, titled 'No one injured in early morning fire at controversial encampment' published Sept. 8.
I must admit that I am getting very concerned about the fires at encampments in Barrie.
So far, there hasn't been any major damage to property or to people. In my opinion, this is just pure luck.
Where do the residents of these encampments disappear to when a fire starts? It seems no one is around when fire crews arrive.
Resources are being taken out of service for taxpaying residents to put out fires in encampments that shouldn't even be in place.
I understand that the people living in encampments have many varying reasons for being there.
It is time the City of Barrie, and the provincial and federal governments, do something concrete about this situation — housing, accessible drug and alcohol programs.
All we hear is talk.
Let's really deal with this issue. If you say you are going to something, then do it.
When are you going to do something? When a resident/residents of an encampment lose their life due to a fire or when an innocent citizen loses theirs or is badly hurt, their property is destroyed?
It is time to stop sitting on the fence.
M. Gow
Barrie
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