Fire Chief Ron Richert says the Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department (QVFD) received “multiple calls” concerning a dumpster fire set the morning of May 13.
“We had two dumpster fires in close proximity to each other; they were obviously deliberately set,” says Richert. “We do have RCMP looking into it too at this time.”
The fires were located behind the Cariboo Hotel in the alley by Front and Reid Street. Richert says that Firefighters were on the scene for about half an hour. Two firefighters had to dump the trash bins onto their sides to be able to get all the contents out to be put out.
No structures were damaged.
“We’ve had a rash of dumpster fires in 2024, and it’s kind of rolled over into 2025,” Richert says. Explaining that the QVFD has received a steady increase in calls for pop-up campfires and dumpster fires in the last year.
“It’s quite concerning,” he said. “Dumpster fires are deliberately set, and we run the risk of damage being done to the building, or the building catching on fire.”
The rise is not only seen in Quesnel. The Williams Lake Fire Department has received an increase in campfire and dumpster fires in the town as well.
Richert advises building and business owners to take caution on what types of garbage they are dumping out. Consider not tossing items such as cardboard and other flammable objects into outside bins until the following morning.
He also hopes advocates can ask the City to try and create more routine and timely garbage picks ups.
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