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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Two inmates - including the accused in a high-profile arson case in Yellowknife - escaped from the Territorial Women's Correctional Centre in Fort Smith on Oct. 12.

The RCMP identified the escapees as Sheila Jewell, 27, and Toni-Lynn Elizabeth Buggins, 25.

Sheila Jewell: accused of setting fire to Yellowknife's Bison Estate Townhouses. Toni-Lynn Elizabeth Buggins: was serving time for property crimes.

Police believe the two escaped through a window in the early morning hours.

The RCMP said both women are believed to have immediately fled the NWT and travelled to Alberta by vehicle, and could be in the company of a man from Hobbema, Alta.

"This seems to be somewhat organized," said RCMP Sgt. Grant Payne of the escape.

"We're confident they're not in the community or in the North," Payne added.

Jewell, originally from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, had been remanded to the facility on an arson charge. She is accused of setting a fire that destroyed eight townhouses at Yellowknife's Bison Estates on Feb. 28.

Buggins, of Yellowknife, was serving time for property-related crime.

The RCMP didn't issue a news release about the escape until Oct. 16 while it tried to locate the women locally before discovering the possible Alberta connection.

The public would have been notified earlier if the escapees had been considered dangerous, Payne said. "There was no indication of that whatsoever."

Jewell is described as 168 cm (five feet, five inches) tall, 68 kg (150 pounds), with brown hair and brown eyes, and of Inuit heritage.

Buggins is described as 175 cm (five feet, seven inches) tall, 66 kg (145 pounds), with light brown hair and green eyes, and of Dene heritage.

Colin Gordon, director of corrections with the Department of Justice, said there were 14 inmates at the minimum security facility when the escape occurred.

There is no fence around the facility, no bars on windows and doors are not locked. Nor are inmates locked in their rooms.

"There are many ways out of the building," Gordon said, adding there is such little security partially because of fire safety concerns.

Gordon said it is possible the escapees simply walked out the front door.

Two staff members were working on the night of the escape. One saw the women in their rooms about 15 minutes before they were noticed missing.

Gordon said there is concern any time an inmate escapes, adding security procedures and security risks are evaluated each time.

Video surveillance was already being considered for the facility, which currently has none.

Gordon said there have occasionally been other escapes from the facility, but he did not have exact numbers.

A few weeks ago an inmate was missing for several hours before being picked up by the RCMP.

If an inmate is considered too high a security risk for the facility, she would be sent to Alberta, said Gordon.