Image: Submitted, used with permission / The newest homeless camp in the Chilliwack River Valley. A large fire was reported at this site on Sunday, August 18 by a Chilliwack resident, despite a fire ban being in place.
Homeless encampment

Illegal campfire starts at new homeless encampment just off Chilliwack Lake Road, despite fire ban

Aug 20, 2024 | 9:44 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack resident and cleanup volunteer Ross Aikenhead had a hunch something bad would happen after an RV was dropped off by a local towing company on a rural forest service road in the Chilliwack River Valley last month.

According to a social media post from Aikenhead, who’s involved in cleanup efforts in the greater Chilliwack area and also keeps meticulous track of nearly every single homeless encampment in the area, an RV was initially dropped off on Bench Forest Service Road in the Chilliwack River Valley on July 27. Aikenhead says the RV is now illegally occupying unceded land at Ford Mountain Forest Service Road.

Not only is the unhoused resident contravening existing squatting laws pertaining to Crown land, a large campfire started sometime Sunday, August 18, at the site, likely by the unhoused camper. Aikenhead says he reported it to 9-1-1 Sunday.

“I guess 9-1-1 didn’t do anything about it. I’ve now called BC Wildfire about it,” Aikenhead said in his social media post. “For all the people in the CRV (Chilliwack River Valley) and anyone else who cares, please raise shit about this. The camp is a big mess now too, nothing like this picture.”

Another Chilliwack River Valley resident stopped by the homeless encampment and said the fire was much smaller several hours later. The unnamed CRV resident advised the unhoused resident a fire ban is still in effect.

Image: Submitted, used with permission / An RV that was originally dropped off in the Chilliwack River Valley July 27.

A fire broke out on July 17 near Riverside Campground, not far from Ford Mountain FSR. Two residents from the rustic Post Creek subdivision sprung into action and helped contain the fire with their own firefighting equipment. It serves as a reminder that disasters can start when people contravene existing fire bylaws in the rural backcountry.

Aikenhead now says there are 21 RVs, two tent camps and five vehicle camps in the Chilliwack River Valley, of which four of the vehicles and one motorhome are in the no-camping zone. Here are the coordinates of the homeless encampments east of the Vedder Bridge in the Chilliwack River Valley, as provided by Aikenhead:

  • Motorhome before the On the Way Store 49.09075, -121.94612
  • 3 vehicles near Edwards Road west 49.08016, -121.90707
  • Jeep and rtt in no-camping zone 49.08054, -121.88650
  • Silver car 49.07115, -121.83243
  • White camper van just east of Allison Pool 49.07646, -121.78195
  • Long term Rv just east of Allison Pool 49.07591, -121.77907
  • 3 RVs at Cedar run 49.07603, -121.77089 49.07606, -121.77110 49.07594, -121.76987
  • Slesse Creek area 6 RVs and decrepit motorhome several structures as well: 49.07603, -121.71588, 49.07594, -121.71761 49.07521, -121.71796, 49.07688, -121.71314
  • 5th wheel from Tamihi area now by Slesse Creek: 49.07680, -121.71330
  • Middle Creek Forest Service Road, 1 motorhome, 1 homemade 5th wheel, and 2 tents, 49.09124, -121.61418
  • Bench Forest Service Road camp 1 5th wheel with a structure attached to it and 2 Rv’s 49.10691, -121.63561
  • Long term RV on Center Creek Forest Service Road 49.09296, -121.57543
  • Trailer 49.09549, -121.59865
  • Drywall dump No. 1, 49.07481, -121.73581
  • 2nd drywall dump, 49.09743, -121.64296
  • Abandoned junk flat deck trailer with no wheels, 49.07736, -121.70782
  • Boat in ditch since last August, 49.10005, -121.62563
  • Burnt motorhome, 49.09097, -121.58382
  • Burnt trailer frame on Nesakwatch Creek Forest Service Road, 49.09097, -121.58382
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