Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (May 30/05) - Fire destroyed a portion of the Luke Novoligak community hall in Cambridge Bay last Tuesday.

Officials say they believe the blaze was started by two young boys, eight and nine years old, who cannot be dealt with under the youth criminal justice act due to their age.

The children were underneath the building and were, most likely, "playing with matches," said fire chief Peter Laube.

Smouldering ash left by the children probably flared up after they left, Laube said.

"One of the kids was home over an hour before we got a call," Laube said.

Fourteen volunteer fire fighters responded to the call just after 10 p.m. and extinguished the blaze by about 1 a.m.

"The fire was travelling up inside the walls and into the roof," Laube said.

With 1,000 gallon fuel tanks attached to nearby buildings, the fire fighters could not take the chance of letting the fire spread, said Laube.

"It was a big team effort," Laube said. A local construction company lent its loader, a plumber helped close off fuel lines, and community members brought sandwiches to the fire station.

Two bathrooms and an entrance area were destroyed. Laube said 90 per cent of the main hall is intact, with some minor smoke damage.

Until the hall is repaired, fund-raising for local sports teams and other organizations is "going to be very difficult," said Michelle Lanteigne, representative of the Cambridge Bay Athletics Association and programs co-ordinator for the Cultural Centre.

Much of the town's fundraising was done in the hall, said Lanteigne.

The cultural centre had a dance planned for last weekend, which had to be cancelled. The hall also housed a daycare and was used by the local wellness centre.