As Stefan Wilcox breathed in and out through an oxygen machine, he remembered back to his time serving in the military when he was exposed to Agent Orange.
For a few years, he’s had to use an oxygen machine and CPAP for health issues related to being exposed to Agent Orange.
However, when homeless living in an encampment behind his house start fires, the smoke from the fires goes into his home and into his oxygen machines, making his health issues worse.
“It wakes me up because it smells like the whole house is on fire, so I’m up and up and start coughing,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox said the encampment has been there since at least 2015. Neighbors in the Foothills also say they have seen other encampments pop up in the Pima Wash in recent months.
Wilcox contacted the County and they got back to him in 2022 and 2023, telling him the encampment is on private property, so only the owner can get rid of it.
“I should be able to do something about it, but apparently since the thing’s been here for 10 years, nobody’s doing anything,” Wilcox said.