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Shack fire on Jolliffe Island

Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, June 11, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A fire on Jolliffe Island Sunday night claimed the home of one resident when a "squatters shack" went up in flames.

The Yellowknife Fire Department was called at 7:45 p.m. and responded to the fire, which was on the east side of island.

Sixteen firefighters and one chief officer responded to the scene, as well as four vehicles, although a rescue boat was used to get the firefighters to the island.

"They were on the scene a little over an hour," said deputy fire Chief Darcy Hernblad.

"We've got to really chop down into the ground to make sure (the fire) is out."

He said that with the ground in that area covered in peat moss and dry roots, fire officials have to be very careful in ensuring the fire is extinguished and there are no "hot spots" left deep in the ground.

Hernblad said no one was in the shack at the time of the fire and, as of Monday morning, the resident has yet to be located.

"We can't really say if it's suspicious in nature at this time," said Hernblad. He said that fire officials need to first speak with the resident of the shack and find out more information before they can decide whether it was an accident or a possible case of arson.

He also said that residents in the area did a good job of suppressing the fire until officials were able to get to the scene and the fire was subsequently limited to the one small structure.

"If we didn't show up it probably would have spread and burnt the island," said Hernblad.