Paulatuk (July 10/06) - Paulatuk RCMP say they are investigating the possibility of foul play in the destruction of an abandoned grocery store.

However, Tom Caines, Senior Administrative Officer for the hamlet of Paulatuk, says the burned building will not be missed.

The wooden building, which had been empty for six years, caught fire around 3 a.m. June 29.

Though eight volunteer firefighters fought to extinguish the blaze, Paulatuk's fire chief, Keith Dodge, said it "was razed flat to the ground."

He said it was fortunate there was no wind to carry the flames towards other buildings, which were about 200 feet away.

The site has now been cleaned up and he has been talking with the building's owner, who lives in Alberta.

He says it is not known whether the owner will rebuild after abandoning the previous building for six years.

While the RCMP is investigating the possibility of foul play, Dodge says he has not encountered this kind of activity in Paulatuk before.

"I have been fire chief for 18 years and we've probably lost about two buildings," he says.

Paulatuk RCMP have promised to keep News North informed as they continue their investigation.