Grass Valley Police Worried Homeless Camps Creating Fire Hazard
GRASS VALLEY (CBS13) — The area of Little Wolf Creek in Grass Valley is posing a big threat to the environment and to the community.
Grass Valley Police have uncovered more than a dozen homeless encampments in a heavily wooded area right next to the Pine Creek Shopping Center on Freeman Lane.
It's been a problem area for years, but police say it has gotten worse over the last few months.
More than a dozen tents are lined up along Little Wolf Creek, along with piles of trash, dirty dishes and clothing. With the recent warm weather, transient activity has increased, raising the threat of fire danger to the area.
Grass Valley Police Chief Alex Gammelgard walked through the encampment Thursday, and spotted a smoldering fire pit at one of the camps.
Gammelgard says "With the type of materials inside the fire pit, a little bit of wind could carry them out and into the cedar trees and other fuel sources, possibly causing a wildfire."
Grass Valley fire crews have documented 30 transient-related fires around the city between 2014 and 2016.
The transient camps also pose a public health threat.
"We've seen batteries, butane canisters, glass and drug paraphernalia around here, which will eventually get into the soil," Gammelgard said.
The Pine Creek Shopping Center has reported an increase in property crime, which police suspect is connected to the camp.
Police have been working with an outreach group to connect transients with resources that would help them get off the streets.
Jeff Cowen is a program supervisor at the Hospitality House, the largest homeless shelter in Nevada County.
But the shelter is filled to capacity, leaving the homeless with nowhere else to go, except to another camp site.
"With the lack of housing stock, to some extent it is a revolving door," Cowen says.
Transients who live along Little Wolf Creek have until the end of the week to move their belongings out, or they could be cited or arrested.
