Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 27/02) - A fire that caused about $90,000 in damage to a Frame Lake South home appears to have been deliberately set.

Firefighters and police were called to the Inukshuk Housing Co-operative early Sunday morning.

Upon arriving at the scene, Deputy Fire Chief Clem St. Croix said the blaze "was pretty much confined" to a mattress in one of the bedrooms.

"It was mostly smouldering, but there was no penetration beyond the mattress."

However, heavy smoke and intense heat caused extensive damage inside the house.

"Some plastic items inside the bedroom were beginning to melt," said St. Croix.

An adult and three children in the house were alerted to the fire by a smoke detector and managed to get out safely. One was taken to Stanton Regional Hospital to receive treatment for smoke inhalation.

The deputy chief directed all questions about the cause of the fire to police, saying the department preferred "to leave that issue to the RCMP."

"It looks like something was deliberately set," said RCMP Yellowknife detachment commander Terry Scott. He did not specify who was suspected of setting the blaze, or what was used to start the fire.

Scott said police continue to investigate, but anticipate the file will be "concluded" shortly.