Photo: Contributed

Fire crews picked up more than 100 discarded needles and drug paraphernalia behind the vacant former bingo hall building on Eckhardt Avenue West.

The Penticton Fire Department was called Friday afternoon to pick up an inordinate mess of drug paraphernalia and trash behind the vacant former bingo hall building.

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster said crews found more than 100 used needles on the property, located at 602 Eckhardt Avenue West, as well as other hazardous and non-hazardous garbage.

He emphasized that a used needle pick-up of this proportion is unusual.

"If we pick up a dozen, that's a lot. Most needle pick-ups are a half dozen or less."

The needles were taken to the hospital by fire crews for proper disposition, and the property owner was advised to attend and pick up the rest of the non-hazardous garbage, according to Forster.

He added that it is unclear how long it took for the mess to build up.

The vacant building on the property is set to be torn down in favour of a 95-room hotel being built, which will be expected to open sometime next year.