Iqaluit (May 17/04) - The fire marshal's report on the Joamie school fire may be the most sought-after and talked about publication in Iqaluit, but on May 13, Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik said she still had not read it.

"It seems the report was available to others but never given to us," said Sheutiapik.

In the report, dated March 3, 2004, Nunavut Fire Marshal Gerald Pickett said Iqaluit Fire Department's level of training and knowledge of how to handle big blazes contributed to the loss of Joamie Ilinniarvik School on July 4, 2003.

Sheutiapik said the fire department and their families are devastated by the fire marshal's harsh review of their performance and subsequent media attention.

"I don't think finger pointing, like what (Pickett) has done in the paper solves the problem," said Sheutiapik.

She and others on council also gave the department a vote of confidence.

"We are behind our firefighters," said Sheutiapik.

Coun. Simon Kilabuk said, "The fire department does a lot of work and they don't get recognized at all. It's important to recognize the work they do."

Media reports about the Joamie report have generated emotional responses from all those involved in the fire fight.

About 20 firefighters crowded into Tuesday night's city council meeting, although nothing formal about the Joamie report was on the agenda, and none of the firefighters spoke directly to council.

Ian Fremantle, chief administrative officer, said he was "surprised and disappointed" about the report and the stories in the media.

'No input'

Fremantle said the city and fire department had "no input" into the report.

"The City received the press release and the report (May 6) apparently after the media received it," Fremantle told council Tuesday night.

Fremantle said there are concerns in the report the city wants answered.

Sheutiapik said that it was her understanding that before the report was released, the city would have time to give its input.

"We didn't get to see the report before it was released," Sheutiapik said, adding.

Council passed a motion on Tuesday to ask that Pickett meet with council and the fire department to review the report and the press release and respond to any concerns raised.

Pickett was at a conference in Toronto last week and unavailable for comment. Calls to Iqaluit fire Chief Cory Chegwyn this week were not returned.