Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 02/02) - The fire at Building 985 in Iqaluit last month was an act of arson.

Fire Chief Cory Chegwyn said last week the fire was deliberately set and originated in the corner of the boiler room.

Building 985 is a ten-unit residential complex.

The fire started just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 13 and was extinguished four hours later.

"Damage to the property is in the neighbourhood of $100,000," said Chegwyn.

The building was evacuated. Some tenants have already moved back in, but those in the two apartments closest to the fire will not be able to return for at least a couple of months.

"We need to do extensive work on these units," said Elizabeth Pinter, the property manager for Northern Property REIT, which owns the building.

"We're treating it as a suspicious fire, but the exact cause has yet to be determined," said Cpl. Ed Anderson.