Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 10/98) - A place of memories, hope and promise -- Julie Illaszewicz's school is no more.

At age 16, the Cambridge Bay student and athlete was one of those set to begin her final year at Kiilinik High School at the end of the month.

Now, that's all in limbo with the possibility that a tight-knit graduating class could be dispersed because of the fire that destroyed the school last week.

"I've gone through school thinking that Grade 12 would be the best year of my life," she said with a whisper during an interview Thursday. "Now, all my best friends could be leaving town.

"Already I know that many students who would have been graduating with me will be going somewhere else (once the school year begins)."

Like most in Cambridge Bay, Julie watched Monday as the fire's flames extinguished a building that students have been attending for the past four decades.

She didn't enjoy it.

"I went out to watch the fire and when it spread to the gymnasium I had to leave because I couldn't take it any more," the young athlete said. "I went home and I could still see it from my bedroom window. I slept for a few hours but when I got up it was still burning."

On Thursday, Cambridge Bay RCMP announced that two 12-year- olds and a 13-year-old, all males, were responsible for setting the fire which led to the burning of the school.

According to the Mounties, the children entered the front porch area of the school where camping gear, including Coleman Stoves and fuel were located.

"They were pouring some fuel out on the ground, setting it on fire and then were putting it out," RCMP said in a written statement. "At one point some fuel was put on one of the stoves and lit on fire. The fire continued to grow and was not discovered until it had caught onto the school..."

By then it was too late and the recently renovated, multi-million-dollar building was soon engulfed in flames.

Investigators have concluded the fire was not set with the intention of burning the school down. No charges will be laid.

Hamlet Mayor Wilf Wilcox said his community was now trying to look forward, putting this tragedy behind them.

"We're picking up the pieces and going forward," he said, adding that Cambridge Bay's first job was to find space so the community's kids could still start school in less than a month. "The concern now is that we only have short window available to set things up for school... This is progressing at a good pace."

"It's a tough job but we're coming together to do it."