IQALUIT - No one was injured after an early morning fire destroyed a three-storey apartment building in Iqaluit, said police.

No one was injured as a fire destroyed a three-storey apartment building early in the morning of March 24. Tenants have been relocated. Investigation into the cause is ongoing. - photo courtesy of Aaron Watson

When the Iqaluit Fire Department arrived at building 4100 by the Road to Nowhere at about 1:30 a..m. on March 24, the fire was located outside the the structure but working its way into the building. Fire crews and the RCMP evacuated the building.

"Fire crews were able to knock down the fire on the exterior sides but flames and smoke had quickly spread into the structure," stated a fire department press release. "Once the fire had made its way into the frame and void spaces of the structure, the building became fully involved and the structure was lost."

RCMP Sgt. Jimmy Akavak said the apartment building has about 30 units.

"Everybody was evacuated," he said. "As far as injuries, we haven't heard of any."

He added it appears the fire started on the west side of the building.

Craig MacGregor, a second-floor tenant and Grade 9 teacher at Inuksuk High School, said he was woken up by the fire alarm.

"My first thought or hope was that it was just a false alarm," he said. "Just in case, I put on warm clothes and I grabbed a few small articles right there in my bedroom. I opened the door and I could see smoke coming out."

He watched the blaze from 1:30 to 3:30 a.m., he added.

"It looked they initially sort of had it contained," he said. "That was definitely a glimmer of hope that maybe it wouldn't be a total loss, but as the time went on, it was pretty evident things were pretty bad. When I left at 3:30, it looked quite bad at that point."

Danielle Steele said she lives on the second floor with her father. She wasn't home when the fire started but said her father called her as soon as the fire happened.

"It was a shock at first, of course," she said. "It helps that the community is coming together and helping with the basics and necessities for now. It's pretty hard to get everything together but I'm doing pretty good."

She said her father thought it was a false alarm and went back to bed only to be awoken by knocking at the door saying it was an actual fire.

"Everyone is left with absolutely nothing – pretty much the clothes they wore out, unless they were lucky enough to grab a couple of things," said Steele. "Everyone lost everything they had. It's great that everyone in the community is trying to help out and lend a hand."

MacGregor added, "Seeing what the community has put together in such short time really helps put your faith in the people of Iqaluit. It's amazing what they've done to support us and everyone in the building."

All of the apartments were occupied by employees of the Government of Nunavut, according to a press release.

"The affected staff have all been located and are now staying in hotels or in other accommodation of their choosing," stated Premier Eva Aariak in the release. "The Nunavut Housing Corporation will be able to arrange alternate staff housing for all of them in short order and we will ensure that they have access to hotels or other interim accommodation in the meantime.”

The GN will accept donations of bedding, small appliances, clothing and non-perishable food Friday at its Staff Housing Warehouse in the West 40, across from the entrance to Sylvia Grinnell Park.

Tina Morrissey, a teacher at Inuksuk High School, is also co-ordinating a collection of donated items for the families displaced by the fire. She said two families had come by so far on Thursday to pick up donated items.

"I think they are just relieved and happy that they're alive and no one got hurt," she said.

Krista Wells from Nunavut Insurance Brokers Ltd. said they've received only one tenant insurance claim so far, and did not know how many residents had insurance.

"It's very important because not only does it cover contents, it covers additional living expenses, which means, if something were to happen, such as last night's fire, the insurance company will put you up in a hotel," she said, up to a limit. "They will also send an emergency cheque for clothing and what not."

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