Yellowknife (Oct 16/06) - NWT chief coroner Percy Kinney wants to know why a shed in which two firefighters died didn't have a building permit nor appeared to have ever been inspected.

NWT chief coroner Percy Kinney, left, accompanied by Bernie Van Tighem, the NWT fire marshal, held a press conference Wednesday to say he plans to continue investigating the fire last year that killed Lt. Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Kinney, accompanied by NWT fire marshal Bernie Van Tighem at press conference Wednesday, said he has requested reports and findings from the Worker's Compensation Board and the City of Yellowknife in hopes of shedding more light into a tragic accident last year that left Lieut. Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson dead.

The men died while fighting a fire inside a shed at the Home Building Centre, March 17, 2005.

The roof of the shed collapsed and asphyxiated them under the weight of snow, debris, and four firefighters sent onto the roof to cut ventilation holes.

According to the NWT Fire Marshal's report into the incident - released in full for the first time this past Wednesday - the roof joists were at only 75 per cent of the required design capacity, and the electric heater that started the fire was improperly installed and repeatedly overheated.

"Just about everyone in Yellowknife at one time or another had been in there getting a piece of wood cut," said Kinney.

"It wasn't built to code. It wasn't built properly. It didn't have a permit. It didn't have an inspection permit. I'd like to know if those holes have been filled.

"How has that process been fixed so that isn't likely to happen again? Are there any other booby traps out there that we don't know about?"

The fire marshal's report was released after the city and WCB reached an agreement Oct. 4 that stayed safety charges against the city and deputy fire chief Darcy Hernblad, the man in charge of fighting the fire.

One of four recommendations made in the report by assistant fire marshal Jean Ducasse calls for the city's building inspection division and the fire department to "engage in a proactive inspection program including pre-fire planning for structures within their jurisdiction."

Kinney said he plans to gather all the information he can and either write a report attached with recommendations or launch a coroner's inquest.

An inquest would depend on whether he's satisfied "a public airing of the facts" has occurred.

If he decides to hold an inquest, he's not sure when it would happen.

"Because a charge can be reinstated within a year, it could be difficult to hold an inquest until that period has lapsed."

Kinney said he can't compel those charged to testify at an inquest while the charges remain open.

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