Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

IQALUIT - The fire that tore through 3050 Apex early on July 24, was set accidentally by two residents of the home, Sgt. Kim Melenchuk of the RCMP said Thursday morning.

The conclusion comes after a joint investigation between the fire marshal's office and the RCMP.

"The (residents) attempted to put the fire out using two fire extinguishers. That was unsuccessful," he said.

Martha and Ipeelee Inookee told media shortly after the incident that their dog Butch had woken the family.

But a cab driver who witnessed the whole thing said he ran into the house to tell everyone to get out, said Melenchuk.

"Another cab driver and two neighbours assisted in getting everyone out of the house," he said.

When asked who the individuals were who started the fire, Melenchuk said: "They were residents of the house."

The names of those responsible for the fire and the people who assisted the family out of the home had not been released as of Thursday morning, as the investigating officer had not yet contacted those individuals for permission.

Melenchuk said it is believed the fire was not set with the purpose of damaging the home. He added the two individuals who started the fire attempted to put it out.

"That was the decision of why there will be no charges laid," he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the remains of the house at 3050 Apex had been cleared away by loaders.

In an interview July 25, Melenchuk told Nunavut News/North he had heard stories of bystanders on the scene going into the house to help the family. On the scene, he continued, these same bystanders told emergency personnel that there was no one else inside.

On July 25, when asked whether anyone had helped his family out of their home, Ipeelee Inookee shook his head and said it was their dog, Butch, that alerted his wife to the fire.