Fire marshall refuses to rule out arson
Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 02/01) - The Northwest Territories' fire marshall and RCMP continue to investigate a blaze that destroyed a Ndilo home last Tuesday.
The fire, which witnesses could see as far away as Con mine, caused about $150,000 of damage.
Police aren't tipping their hands about motives or suspects right now, but left little doubt they think the fire was deliberately set.
"It's a very, very suspicious fire," says Staff Sgt. Terry Scott, Commander of the RCMP's Yellowknife Detachment.
Scott said approximately 20 people have been interviewed by the police so far, and "we have 23 more people left to interview."
Fire marshall Don Gillis confirmed that investigators still think arson may have caused the blaze.
"We have not been able to rule out arson as a cause," said Gillis.
Gillis said he's "not prepared at this time" to say where the fire began in the house, or what fuelled the blaze, citing the ongoing investigation by his office and police.
Whatever the fire's origins, the empty house went up like dry tinder, illuminating Ndilo with an eerie orange glow. Firefighters reported they could feel heat from the fire through the windshields of their parked cars 30 metres away.
Altogether, 18 firefighters were on site to fight the blaze, along with two pumpers, two tankers, a rescue truck, an ambulance and a command truck.
The home, owned by Yellowknives Dene band councillor Muriel Betsina, had been undergoing renovations for years. The interior was essentially a bare shell inside.
"All the framing members in the house were exposed," said Gillis. This contributed to how quickly the fire spread.
Betsina could not be reached for comment.
