Yellowknife (Mar 15/06) - The City of Yellowknife has paid for its own report into the deaths of two firefighters last March, but no one is saying what it contains.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the report was conducted by an outside consulting firm, but he hasn't seen it yet and said he doesn't need to.

Gord Van Tighem : "I know the things they are working on."

"I have had deep discussions with senior management from 10 months ago to six months ago to three months to even more in the last several weeks," said Van Tighem. "I know the things they are working on."

The mayor said he isn't certain, but guessed that the report was presented to the city a "couple months ago."

Van Tighem said he doesn't know specifically what safety measures may have been taken by the city after the fatal fire.

"Safety is a high and ongoing priority. Specifically, to what they've (the fire department) done, I wouldn't get involved to that level of detail, but there would be de-briefings and follow-ups, and ongoing things," said Van Tighem.

According to Dennis Marchiori, the city's director of Public Safety, the report is still in the draft stage. He said it was initiated last November.

"We got some drafts back in January, but at this point in time we wouldn't say it's actually completed, and with the charges pending by the WCB, we're not going to release that because it would be a bit of a conflict."

Reports by the NWT fire marshal and Workers' Compensation Board are also being withheld following safety charges against the fire chief, a deputy and the city.

Marchiori said city councillors will get to see the report when it's finalized.

As for the 12 safety orders issued by the WCB late last month, Marchiori said the board has given the city an extension until March 24 on completing two of the demands.

One, an order for a review of emergency scene management procedures, and another, involving procedures to list all fire hall personnel responding to calls, were due for completion this week.

Deputy fire chief Darcy Hernblad, who was among the three parties charged last week for failing to ensure the safety of firefighters in the deaths of two firefighters last year, is now in command of the fire hall.

Van Tighem said there are no plans to remove Hernblad because of the charges, insisting, "We're still in Canada, people are still innocent until proven guilty."

Fire chief Mick Beauchamp, who was also charged, went on sick leave starting last Friday morning although Friday afternoon city spokesperson Greg Kehoe said Beauchamp would be remaining on the job.

Van Tighem wouldn't disclose the nature of Beauchamp's illness.

"He's had some medical challenges over the years, and they re-surfaced," he said.

Beauchamp, Hernblad and the City are to appear in court April 11 to face safety charges filed by the WCB last week.