B.C. orders 14-day eviction for Peachland encampment over wildfire risks
Residents of a large encampment on forested Crown land above Peachland, B.C., must leave within 14 days. The B.C. Natural Resource Officer Service has issued eviction notices to those living at the site. Concerns about wildfire risks and environmental hazards have grown over the past year as the camp expanded.
The encampment, known locally as the Fairview camp, now holds around 20 RV trailers along with piles of garbage, old vehicles, and discarded furniture. Multiple fires have broken out there in the last three years, including one that recently spread onto private land. Neighbouring residents have been pushing for government action for months.
The site sits near Trepanier Creek, where sewage contamination has raised further alarms. Peachland Mayor Patrick Van Minsel backs the eviction, citing wildfire dangers, though he acknowledged disappointment for those losing their homes. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs is providing support services to affected residents. Business operators near Penticton’s Fairview homeless encampment are now urging officials to take similar action in their area.
The eviction follows repeated fire incidents and rising concerns over pollution and safety. Those living at the site will receive assistance from provincial services. The decision reflects ongoing efforts to address risks linked to unregulated encampments in the region.
