Life is about to get soggier for many of the protesters at Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»after the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Fire and Rescue Services have decided many of the large tarps covering tents have to come down.
Two days after Mayor Gregor Robertson said the city would be continuing a watch and wait approach to deal with the ongoing protest, Fire Chief John McKearney announced that the tarps will have to come down by 10 a.m. Friday (Nov. 4) morning.
First responders were called in early today in response to a drug overdose within the encampment, and access was made more difficult because of large tarps that have been spread over tents since the weather has gotten worse in recent days.
This morning's incident, which has been attributed to heroin overdose, further demonstrates the requirement to enforce appropriate fire and life safety measures, said fire department spokesperson Capt. Gabe Roder. Fire medics and BCAS paramedics had to overcome several obstacles to reach and extricate the patient. In addition, two propane tanks were also discovered within this enclosed area, which directly contravenes the earlier directive set by the fire chief that propane and fuels of any type are prohibited. Had this been a fire and deadly smoke emergency, fire fighters would have been very challenged to perform rescue operations.
The VFRS is calling for the removal of tarps covering multiple tents, unoccupied tents, any open flame heat sources such as candles and any propane or other fuel sources on the site, as well as to make sure there is enough space between tents so rescue workers can get through.
McKearney said the decision was made to ensure public safety rather than a way to make life more difficult for protesters in the hope they might simply pack up and leave.
It's not to do anything other than ensure their safety and the safety of my staff having to get through all this debris in order to provide a rescue or First Aid, McKearney told the Courier. I think the problem sometime is that although many have a desire to be compliant and they are very understanding of the purpose, there are other people on site who are not of the same mind. The not only challenge us but they challenge [other protesters]. That's why it is important for us to be there and work with their committees, and that is why staff will be at their meeting tonight to explain all this to them.
The news was met with resignation rather than defiance from some Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»protesters.
It sucks and it kind of seems like a sneaky way of trying to get rid of people, said John LeBlanc, who said he spends a few nights a week on the site. I can see their point though, and the last thing we want is for something terrible to happen and people die because of safety hazards. It's going to make life a lot tougher for a lot of people staying here though.
McKearney said he is hoping police will not need to get involved Friday morning although they won't be far away.
The police will be there if we need them. They're not going to be visible, per se, because that would be sending a very different message then the one we want to send.
