John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 7, 2008

RAE-EDZO - In the early morning hours of Jan. 3, a Weda Tili home in Behchoko burst into flames for the second time since the fall.

"I was working the security graveyard shift and got the call at about 1 a.m.," said resident Mark Dryneck. "I dispatched the fire department ... they were on it until about 4:30 a.m."

Mark Dryneck surveys the damage to this Weda Tili home in Behchoko, which was set on fire for the second time in a matter of months. He was working the security graveyard shift on Jan. 3, when the blaze broke out and said he's not feeling very safe with all of the fires around the community in recent times. - John Curran/NNSL photo

The house, said to be owned by Michael Rabesca, was vacant at the time as it was uninhabitable after the first fire in October.

"There was a drum dance going on when the fire happened," said Dryneck. "As soon as I turned the siren on everybody came out to see what was going on and a huge crowd ended up gathering around the fire to watch."

One man from Whati, who asked not to be identified, said he was staying across the street from the charred home when last week's blaze occurred and he watched as the community's volunteer fire department responded to the call.

He said he was shocked by the apparent lack of organization.

"The fire department here took 10 to 15 minutes to get everything hooked up and start pumping water after they arrived," he said.

An e-mail sent to News/North by a resident wishing to remain anonymous also noted difficulties with fire response. The e-mail stated that initial calls to the fire department to report the fire were not answered.

Behchoko fire chief and senior administrative officer Terry Testart was out of the community on holidays and unavailable for comment.

This latest blaze brings the total number of fires in the community to eight since the fall.

Police aren't calling this fire arson yet, but the fire marshal has been called in and the investigation is ongoing, said Sgt. Francis Cullen, of the Behchoko RCMP detachment.

"Of the eight fires since the fall ... in truth, I can say seven were likely arson," he said.

Residents are largely blaming the situation on bored youth in the community.

A community-wide youth curfew was instituted for anyone under 16 between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., but it has had little effect.

"We had to drive kids home the other morning at 4 a.m.," said Cullen. "We've done that about four times over the Christmas break."

There were other instances when youth were spotted breaking the curfew, he added.

"We don't chase the kids at all (for breaking curfew)," he said. "That's not a game we'll play."

"The youth have become addicted to setting fires," complained one resident who refused to give her name for fear of potential reprisals. "We need to have more for them to do."

Another Behchoko resident, Nikita Mantla, said the problem started with the closure of the Khon Go Cho Sportsplex - home to the community's arena, curling rink and many other recreation facilities.

The 22-year-old building has been closed since last March for a multi-million-dollar renovation that is expected to be completed in time for next winter.

In the meantime, however, Mantla said there's little for youth to do.

"Growing up here, we always played sports and games at the Sportsplex," she said. "Since it closed, drugs and alcohol have become a much bigger problem among our youth."

Cullen strongly disagreed with that assessment.

"The community can think that, but they've hired a good recreation director and there are a lot of activities going on for them," he said.

A lot of planning was done leading up to the arena's closure, said recreation director Mike Yakabuski.

The gyms in both Edzo and at the elementary school in Rae are hosting a number of activities ranging from volleyball to yoga after school, in the evenings and on weekends.

Outdoor rinks have also been built in each part of Behchoko and there will be nine separate bus trips for youth to go swimming and skating in Yellowknife this winter. Other activities, such as a recent cross-country ski clinic, are also being offered at the cultural centre, he said.

"I can't say we're getting the participation we'd like to see," he said. "But there's a lot being offered."

"A lot of the issues going on here relate to a lack of parental supervision," said Cullen.

Calls to Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty were not returned prior to press time.

The exact reason behind the fires isn't that important in Dryneck's mind. For him, the biggest problem is the way they've left him feeling about his community.

"I don't feel very safe," he said. "That's not good."