The Chief of Kamloops Fire and Rescue says the department is working Community Services Officers to ensure that the city’s most vulnerable people are safe during the cold spell.

Ken Uzeloc – who is also the City’s Protective Service’s Director – says that includes trying to get people who are lighting fires to stay warm into shelter spaces.

“You can’t force anybody and that is where our officers will make a call to our dispatch who will get in touch with the Community Safety Outreach team,” Uzeloc said on NL Mornings.

“Those groups will then prioritize to come and address those incidents that we’ve been on where we’ve found someone that we really think needs some help and assistance.”

Uzeloc says while the goal is to help everyone in need, “there is still a percentage of that population that doesn’t [want] to go to shelter.”

“Generally, when we start to get these cold temperatures we start to see an increase in the burning complaints or warming fires,” he noted.

“KFR along with our Community Services Officers carry little containers of gloves and toques and hand warmers, different things to hand out to them to help encourage them not to have fires and to see help in one of the resources that are available.”

Uzeloc is also encouraging Kamloopsians to call 9-1-1 if they see smoke or flames, noting KFR will investigate to make it isn’t serious.

“Some people drive by and see a bit of a flame and think ‘oh, its just a campfire’ when it could be something worse,” Uzeloc said. “We do encourage people to call.”

“Once we’re on scene, we’ll work with our partners – Community Services, some of the outreach agencies – to see if they are vulnerable to try and get them the help they need.