Tuesday, July 20, 2010 Burrards fire up offence against the Victoria Shamrocks.
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ary Annivers 1985-2010
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Downtown
Vacant lot a fire hazard, says manager by Amy Steele asteele@mrtimes.com
J
im Osler fears a giant grass fire will break out on the vacant lot directly behind the apartment building he manages and he’s unimpressed that the District of Maple Ridge doesn’t appear to be taking any action. The vacant lot is just south of 224 Street and North Avenue behind Fraserview Apartments. When the TIMES visited Friday some grass on the site was six-feet high. There was also a thicket of blackberry bushes and garbage strewn throughout the thick vegetation. The lot is across from the formerly crime-ridden and dilapidated Northumberland Court strata complex, which is currently vacant. Osler said he first started complaining to the district about garbage piling up on the property five months ago and he has been complaining about the height of the vegetation for a month and a half. He even called the fire department to complain about the likelihood of a grass fire on the lot. “If we get a grass fire in there there’s a chance my building will
SPORTS ❚ Cup runneth over with fans
go up in smoke,” he said. “It’s a bloody mess.” Osler said he’s concerned that someone walking up 224 Street from the pub at the end of the road will throw a cigarette butt into the lot in the middle of the night and a fire will break out. He believes that bylaw enforcement is more vigorous in wealthier parts of the community. “(It’s) just typical when you get south of 224 and Lougheed. Who gives a damn? The city doesn’t,” he said. “Different strokes for different folks.” Bill Turner, who manages another apartment building in the neighbourhood, is also concerned about the lot as well as an abandoned building where police busted a grow-op a couple of years ago. He believes both are fire hazards that should be addressed. Osler questions whether the city would be liable if a fire broke out on the vacant lot because he’s complained multiple times and it hasn’t been cleaned up. The TIMES was unable to reach anyone from the district for comment as of press time.
Listen to Andrew Ladd discuss being traded and see lots more photos from Sunday’s event at www.mrtimes.com.
Jim Osler is dwarfed by grass he thinks is a fire risk. Amy Steele/TIMES
Jordan Meech (left), 5, and Curtis Cunningham (right), 5, pose with the Stanley Cup at a public event in Planet Ice on Sunday. The event was put on in celebration of Maple Ridge native Andrew Ladd’s second Stanley Cup win with the Chicago Blackhawks. Approximately 2,200 people attended to have photos taken with Ladd and the trophy. For more photos of the event visit www.mrtimes.com and watch our slide show and listen to Ladd. Mitch Thompson/TIMES
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