Two dead in encampment fire

A fire at one of the tent encampments in Saint John has left two people dead and city police asking the public for help in its investigation. 

Police say emergency responders were called to a tent fire on Paradise Row just after 3:30 p.m. Monday. 

“Upon arrival the fire was quickly put out and the bodies of two unidentified individuals were discovered,” Acting Staff Sgt. Matthew Weir told media during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. 

Police, in cooperation with the Saint John Fire Department and Coroner’s Office, are investigating the fire. The cause is not yet know, Weir said. 

Various first response vehicles were on the scene Monday afternoon as officials sifted through ash and debris in a small, wooded area, all of which had been cordoned off behind yellow emergency tape. Lying just on the edge of that area sat a small propane tank and a hamper filled with various items. 

After most of the emergency vehicles left the scene shortly after 5 p.m., one Saint John Fire Department pickup and a police cruiser remained as two officials continued to examine the site, at one point digging in the dirt with a small shovel. 

During Tuesday’s press conference Weir said police have yet to establish the identity of the deceased. He said those identities could be established through a variety of means including “fingerprints or DNA or dental” records. 

Johanne McCullough of Street Team SJ told Brunswick News Tuesday it’s becoming more and more frustrating to see members of the unhoused community die in fires. She said the team of roughly 25 volunteers who assist and provide meals to the city’s unhoused were still reeling from the January encampment fire that resulted in the death of 44-year-old Peter “Evan” McArthur after he suffered burns. Now, she said, they’re mourning the loss of two more individuals.  

“I think most of the volunteers are feeling a bit shocked, a little bit numb and angry as well,” she said. “The anger comes from a hope and a wanting to see people out of that situation, out of having to living in tents and to have other solutions in place for them.” 

McCullough said those solutions don’t simply include “getting them into a structure” but also means support services and programs they need to get off the street. She said it’s a multi-prong issue that her volunteers see each day and, yet, they are still losing people to tragic circumstances. 

McArthur’s death prompted the provincial government to expedite the launch of the Saint John homelessness hub, which was supposed to open in April. The centre, which offers health, mental health and addiction services, has a housing team on site and provides other supports such as helping individuals obtain identification cards. The centre opened its doors in early February.

While police said they had yet to identify the two victims, McCullough said the pair who died in Monday’s fire were known to Street Team SJ and had plans to leave Saint John for another location. 

“They both had really great personalities,” she said. “One was a little more quiet while the other was a bit more exuberant and just loved life. They both were very hopeful and they had plans. They actually were supposed to be travelling together (Wednesday). They were moving and I had supplies set aside at my house for them because they reached out to me for help because they were going to be going to another town.” 

McCullough added the people they deal with each day worry they may end up dead because of events like Monday’s fire. 

“I think there’s definitely that fear,” McCullough said. “The fear of fire comes up a lot, the risk of it comes up a lot. People are definitely afraid of being in that situation because they’re seeing their friends… The community of the people who are unhoused is very tight knit. This hits them very close, as well, because they know each other so well.”  

Deaths prompt political debate 

During Question Period in the legislature Tuesday Liberal Leader Susan Holt said she learned of the deaths Monday evening through media reports. 

“It has been a deadly winter for unhoused people in New Brunswick and so it begs the question, what has the government been doing to support people living out in the cold?” Holt asked. 

Premier Blaine Higgs responded stating it is “very sad” to see the loss of lives in the city, noting homelessness is becoming “more and more of a challenge” not only in New Brunswick but across the country. He said politicians can argue and blame one another but there must be real solutions developed to help people get off the streets, help them in their recovery from whatever has forced them to become unhoused and “find a future for them in this province.” 

Holt said the premier is right in the need for finding solutions but argued “this government has not responded to the homelessness crisis with the urgency and response it demands.” 

Higgs argued the province has been working with communities to assist with the homelessness issue but “the sad reality… is some people don’t want to come off the street, some people just refuse to do that.” He said government does want to find solutions so people won’t have to live on the street and they can get back on their feet. 

City mayor extends condolences 

Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon issued a statement on the fire expressing her condolences to the “friends and families who are mourning” noting “the entire community of Saint John stands with you during this incredibly difficult time.” 

Reardon stated the deaths serve as “a stark reminder” that lasting solutions need to be found so homelessness is no longer an issue in the city. 

“I understand that many of you are feeling frustrated and saddened by the pace of change and the impact this crisis is having on our community,” Reardon’s statement noted. “Please know that your feelings are completely justified, and I am committed to listening and incorporating your voices into our collective efforts to make a difference. 

“Together with our frontline agencies and partners, we are dedicated to tackling the housing crisis head-on. Our mission is clear: to ensure that every individual in Saint John has access to safe and affordable housing. Through continued collaboration, I am confident we can address this challenge effectively.” 

Investigators are appealing for witnesses or anyone in the area that has video footage or surveillance before, during, or after the fire occurred. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Saint John Police Force at 1-506-648-3333, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1-800-222-T.I.P.S.