Barrie continues to operate under a state of emergency as fire crews work to manage public safety risks related to homeless encampments throughout the city. Mayor Alex Nuttall first declared the emergency on September 9, 2025, to address the growing number and size of these sites, which officials noted were causing significant risk and harm to the community.
The Barrie Fire and Emergency Service has been at the forefront of the response, having dealt with nearly 30 fires at encampments in the six months leading up to November 2025. Deputy Fire Chief Eric MacFadden has highlighted that these fires pose serious dangers due to the use of makeshift heating devices and the presence of hazardous materials on-site, which can cause flames to spread rapidly.
While the emergency status remains in effect with an alert level of medium as of February 12, 2026, the city has seen progress in managing the situation. Between September 9, 2025, and March 9, 2026, the city addressed 100 encampments, resulting in zero known encampments remaining on municipally owned land. Despite these efforts, data from the County of Simcoe indicates that 653 individuals identified as homeless in Barrie as of March 2, 2026.
To help address the ongoing need for shelter, a new 40-unit project called Bridge to Stability was launched on February 6, 2026. This initiative is a partnership between the County of Simcoe and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, supported by nearly $1.7 million in federal funding. The city continues to provide updates on its response through the official city alerts page as it coordinates with regional partners to manage resources and support those in need.
