One man seriously injured after encampment fire in Saint John - Action News
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New Brunswick

One man seriously injured after encampment fire in Saint John

A man has serious injuries following a fire at a tent encampment in Saint John on Saturday night. He was taken to hospital with severe burns. Others with less serious injuries were treated on site.

Man sent to hospital, others treated on site following fire near Main Street, Route 1

Tents, plywood and blankets lay scattered across the ground.
The Saint John Fire Department was called to the scene shortly before 8 p.m. (Julia Wright/CBC)

One man has severe burns following a fire at a tent encampment in Saint John on Saturday night. He was taken to hospital while others with less serious injuries were treated at the site.

The Saint John Fire Department responded to a call just before 8 p.m. from an encampment near the Main Street viaduct that goes over Route 1.

Platoon chief Ed Moyer says the construction of the encampment presented a challenge for firefighters.

"They build it out of plywood and tarps and blankets and stuff like that," Moyer said. "So it's more of like mini-huts and shelters as opposed to tents."

He said propane cylinders,cooking devices and heating devices among other items "made it a difficult and unsafe area."

Burnt pieces of wood with trees in the background.
An investigator is looking into the cause of the fire. (Julia Wright/CBC)

Crews needed to cut through a fence around the encampment to fight the fire. They also needed a tanker for water supply.

Moyer says there have been fires at the encampment before. Aninvestigator is looking into the cause of the fire.

With files from Blair Sanderson