Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Dec 20/99) - A swift response by local firefighters to a fully engulfed White Row unit recently was critical in saving several neighbouring units from going up in flames.

Fire Chief Neville Wheaton says that although White Row housing has fire barriers separating each unit, the fire would have spread beyond the burning Unit 212.

"The fire was coming out of the doors and windows when we arrived," said Wheaton.

"We got there early enough and put it out, otherwise it would have gone through the other units."

One person was home when the fire started in the early morning hours on Saturday, Dec. 4 and dispatch received the call at 5:18 a.m.

While the fire remains under investigation, Wheaton says it is currently listed as accidental.

As part of the investigation, several interviews with bystanders will be checked for consistency with the testimony from the lone occupant and then further compared with notes from the RCMP.

Several of the adjoining units suffered smoke damage and the tenants were provided with hotel accommodations for the night.

No one was injured in the incident.