The Prince George Chamber of Commerce supports Prince George city council’s unanimous decision Monday to launch overnight downtown patrols in an effort to reduce the number of dangerous fires.
The patrols will be conducted by one city bylaw officer, one RCMP officer, and one firefighter on three random nights per week between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. for four to six weeks.
“The number of fires in the downtown area has soared since spring arrived, damaging local businesses and affecting air quality for nearby residents,” Prince George Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Neil Godbout said in a release. “This innovative collaboration is a good first step towards making the downtown safer for everyone.”
According to a staff report to city council, the patrols will be taking an “escalated approach” to enforcement, meaning first offenders may receive a warning, with second offences warranting a ticket for open burning under the Clean Air Bylaw, leading up to criminal charges for mischief for further delinquent burning offences.
“If an individual is found setting or maintaining a fire in a deliberately destructive manner, (such as) the siding of a building, the RCMP have indicated that they would recommend a criminal charge of Mischief in the first instance,” the report stated.
Dates have yet to be set for when the enhanced patrols will get underway but the Chamber is hopeful they are on the street as soon as possible.
“We’d also like to see city council receive a full report on the activities and effectiveness of these patrols,” Godbout added. “Once that data is in hand, mayor and council should consider extending those patrols into the fall, along with fully funding them in the 2025 budget.”
