Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 06/00) - RCMP have been asked to investigate a fire that destroyed the upstairs of a residence at 116 Rivett Crescent in Yellowknife early Saturday.
The fire is being investigated by police and the territorial fire marshall.
"We make a determination on scene and that information is given to the RCMP," said deputy fire chief Mike Lowing about fires that warrant that type of criminal investigation.
"We can't release any more information because it is an RCMP investigation."
The RCMP would not comment until the investigation is completed.
"They have a life of their own and each one is different," said Sgt. Al McCambridge on the investigation.
When the fire department arrived at 8:37 a.m. the two-storey home was full of smoke and flames were venting from an upstairs bedroom window.
The department pulled in hose lines and fought the source of the fire, thought to be in the bedroom, for about an hour until it was out. The walls and ceilings in the area were thoroughly examined to ensure the fire did not spread.
Six emergency vehicles were on the scene and it took 16 firefighters to fight the blaze.
Damage to the structure is estimated at $150,000, with $75,000 in contents destroyed.
The fire department says no one was injured and the lone male resident at the time, Craig Shenher, took shelter at a neighbours before firefighters arrived at the scene.
