Greater Sudbury Fire Services has changed it approach and is now allowing for a burn barrel to burn around the clock at the Energy Court homeless encampment site in Sudbury. The change came into effect two days after a woman was found dead after a tent fire. On Friday, CTV News Northern Ontario spoke with Marielle Lemieux as she was getting warm by a fire at a burn barrel at the encampment. Lemieux, who has been homeless for a year, said staying warm is crucial for people like her. “It’s a lifesaver for some people,” she said. “Me, as well, right now, it’s better than standing in the cold.” As of Wednesday, Greater Sudbury Fire Services made the exception to allow the burn barrel to burn 24 hours a day, seven days a week for warmth at this site. The change comes as officials continue their investigation into the death of a woman following a tent fire on Monday night. Deputy Chief Nathan Melin of Greater Sudbury Fire Services said allowing the burn barrels was under consideration before the tent fire. “This concern was brought up prior to the fatality, and it was in the works of looking to get it approved,” Melin said. “We did have to mitigate some risk that was involved with having an open fire 24 hours a day there.” He said the burn barrel is monitored by video surveillance. “Some of those risks have been mitigated through surveillance,” Melin said. “Through video surveillance, they are able to monitor the fire and determine that if it gets out of control, then suppression crews will be called.” In the wake of the fatal fire, Lemieux said it’s been a tough week for people at Energy Court. In addition to the death, temperatures have been plunging and there’s been more snow. " I think that people are kinda’ in a cold numb, you know, what I mean?” she said. “What else do you do, like, keep warm by a fire or in there and wait for somebody to help?” Greater Sudbury Fire Services said the city supplies the wood for the burn barrel. This is to ensure it is clean, dry wood to prevent anyone gathering around the barrel from breathing in toxins.
