Vehicle fires increase in Battleford and R.M.

“We had six last [year] where [in] the previous two years we had none, and of those six I`m almost certain five were stolen vehicles that were lit up to cover tracks,” Gabruch said. “[It] is really unfortunate because it’s one thing to joy ride but now you’re permanently damaging tens of thousands of dollars worth of vehicles and that impacts all of us through our SGI rates.”

He said that it’s an issue which affects both the citizens of the Battlefords and the R.M., as well as the fire department.

“Having said that, the public has to be aware that the days of leaving your keys in a vehicle are long gone,” he said. “Often that is the case, but the criminal element also has the intellect and education and the ability in criminal activity to hot wire vehicles without even having the key.”

The report showed other areas that saw less significant increases, including false alarms and vehicle accidents.

Gabruch had answers for these increases however, with home security monitor systems often sending out false alarms and the collision-heavy intersection of Highway 4 and 29 St., which the town is working with the Ministry of Highways to fix.

Not all statistics were bad. Gabruch said last year there were zero fire fatalities or injuries, which has been the case in the town and R.M. going back to 2009.

Katherine.svenkeson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ksvenkeson

by Katherine Svenkeson

Vehicle fires increase in Battleford and R.M.

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