The Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel met with Black Lives Matter protesters at the Minneapolis Police Department’s 4th precinct on Sunday to discuss the department’s safety concerns about the numerous bonfires in the area and winter storms approaching this week.

The department had safety concerns “in regards to the growing (number of) fires and emergency access to the area particularly in relation to the weather forecasts which are calling for significant winter storms over the next few days,” according to statement by

Bryan D. Tyner, assistant chief of administration for the fire department.

Protesters have been camped out at the precinct since Nov. 15, when police fatally shot Jamar Clark, a young, unarmed black man. The area outside the precinct has turned into a small camping village with tents, fire pits, cartons of donated food and even a medics station.

Earlier, Tyner had said fire officials wouldn’t make demands on the protesters. “We will be having conversations only,” he said.