A woman who had been living in a small trailer along Othello Road is now living in her vehicle, after the trailer was set ablaze on Saturday evening.
Laura Miller had arrived earlier this summer in Hope after leaving her home in New Westminister for cheaper living. While between homes and jobs, she had purchased the trailer to live in temporarily. She said on Saturday late afternoon, she had a brief confrontation with an aggressive driver near the property where the trailer was sitting.
Following the confrontation, Miller says she had driven her truck into Hope to find help. She found an RCMP officer outside the closed detachment and he accompanied her to the trailer for her safety. She knew the car had gone into the area, and figured the trailer was being robbed or that a group may have been partying nearby.
“I was terrified for my safety,” she says.
When they arrived at the site, just past the bridge across the Coquihalla River, they saw the smoke coming from the trees. The car involved in the confrontation earlier was already burnt out, and the trailer was actively burning. Her cat was inside the trailer, along with all her food and most of her personal belongings. While the trailer was small, just 12 feet and in older condition, it was her temporary home.
Miller says she has little left and has been in touch with Outreach in Hope for help. She’s hoping to find a camper for her truck while she works to get her feet grounded again. She is also considering a GoFundMe campaign.
Hope RCMP say they have no suspects in the fire, and that it is still under investigation. The vehicle that was involved was not reported stolen.
“We are still trying to confirm the ownership of the vehicle,” said Cpl. Darryl Peppler. He added that with burned vehicles, they work with ICBC’s special investigation unit to find the vehicle identification numbers.
