While crime and social issues aren’t anything new in Prince George, Norwood Street and the Lombardy Trailer Park have seen their fair share of calls from first responders.
Over the last five years, MyPGNow.com has published 22 stories under the search “Norwood Street” ranging from RCMP releases to files sent from the local fire department.
The latest incident occurred on January 14th where a structure fire along the 2100 block of Norwood Street was later deemed arson by Prince George Mounties after the fire department initially responded to the call.
The investigation into this file remains open, however, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
In April of last year, Prince George fire crews took the call of a mobile home fire on the same block of Norwood Street (2100) where the damage estimate was $150,000.
Luckily, the two people inside the home exited safely and were not harmed.
In August of 2018, firefighters responded to two blazes in the same area in a nine-day span.
In both cases, damage to the property was considered extensive but no injuries were reported.
In an interview, PG Fire Chief John Iverson noted this area of the city is one of many that sees its fair share of calls.
“There are several areas in the city where we are fairly active. We are actually quite used to managing different situations as they present themselves.”
“One of the key things that help us when looking at these events is witness statements. There is no one thing, there are several things that we take into consideration.”
When asked if there is any frustration among firefighters on responding to similar calls in the same area of the city, Iverson noted by saying there is a fair bit of empathy for all the people dealing with the tougher situations life throws at them.
“I think the instances of the tougher calls, the tougher situations are more driven by behaviours of specific individuals and their lifestyle choices as opposed to any other factors.”
The area has also seen its fair share of police activity over the years.
In January of 2020, the Prince George RCMP along with the North District Emergency Response Team took three people into custody after converging on a residence on Norwood Street (2100 block).
It was a part of a weapons-related investigation, which saw two men aged 35 and 41 along with a 50-year-old woman arrested.
Last March, an early morning vehicle theft that began along the 1400 block of 20th Avenue eventually ended in the arrest of two 36-year-old men who were later found in a trailer park on Norwood Street.
Murphy John George was charged with Theft Under $5000, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Resisting Arrest.
Meanwhile, Joseph Patrick Courtoreille was slapped with charges including Theft Under $5000, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, and Possession of Break-in Instruments.
While Cst. Jennifer Cooper admitted the area does see its fair share of police calls, it’s not the only section of PG that finds itself in this situation.
“That area of the city has a portion of our population that has significant social and economic barriers that have been set up against them. It’s not necessarily fair to say there is a high police presence there or higher emergency services there without taking some of that into consideration.”
“We have an increased amount of calls for the downtown, we have seen a spike in calls for service in the Hart as there are a lot of things that have gone on in the past few years especially concerning the availability of certain street drugs that have led to more overdose deaths increasing the number of service calls in a lot of places.”
“It also increases the amount of money that people need to buy those drugs. New drugs cost more money and that means potentially more property crime, more break, and enters. Kind of a multitude of factors to be honest” added Cooper.
The BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) released its raw data on 9-1-1 calls with paramedic response to 2188 Norwood Street (identified as the Lombardy Trailer Park) over the last five years.
Four out of the last five years have seen an increase in calls:
In addition, BCEHS noted that the Northern Capital has more than 10,000 Medical Emergency calls each year.
On top of that, the Lombardy Trailer Park has come under scrutiny from the City of Prince George.
In July of 2015, city council approved the demolition of several mobile homes located in the trailer park that were deemed derelict properties that were up for remedial action.
A month later, bylaw services stepped up enforcement according to former Bylaw Services Manager Fred Crittenden:
“We had contractors move in and start removing some of the dismantled modular homes in the trailer park, as well as the removal of two park structures that were yet to be completely demolished,” stated Crittenden nearly six years ago.
According to the city, the costs associated with the hire were covered by the city and then billed to the owner’s property taxes.
Here is the city’s review of bylaw calls to the 2100 Block of Norwood Street:
2011: 8 calls. This included 2 garbage, 1 noise, 1 other, 4 unsightly
2012: 9 calls. This included 1 abandoned vehicle, 2 dumpings, 2 garbage, 1 noise, 1 snow pushing, 2 unsightly
2013: 6 calls. This included 1 burning and 5 unsightly
2014: 5 calls. This included 1 other and 4 unsightly
2015: 13 calls. This included 1 abandoned vehicle, 4 other, 2 secondary suites, 4 unsightly
2016: None
2017: None
2018: None
2019: 2 calls. Both were for garbage
2020: 8 calls. 1 motorhomes/RV, 1 noise, 6 unsightly
In addition, the city also supplied MyPGNow.com the review of bylaw calls for the Lombardy Trailer Park:
2011: No calls
2012: 4 calls. 2 burning, 1 unroadworthy vehicle, 1 unsightly
2013: 6 calls. 1 burning, 5 unsightly
2014: 11 calls. 3 burning, 4 other, 4 unsightly
2015: 11 calls. 1 dust, 6 noise, 1 other, 1 snow pushing, 2 unsightly
2016: 3 calls. 1 noise, 1 burning, 1 unsightly
2017: 7 calls. 1 abandoned vehicle, 3 burning, 1 other, 2 unsightly
2018: 8 calls. 5 noise, 2 unsightly, 1 other
2019: 3 calls. 2 burning, 1 other
2020: 1 call. 1 unsightly
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