The remnants of the swimming pool facility in Edzo continue to smoulder after it was claimed by a fire in the early hours of Oct. 12. RCMP have deemed the fire suspicious. - photo courtesy of Facebook |
Fire destroys Edzo swimming pool
RCMP and fire marshal seek information after suspicious blaze
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 20, 2014
BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
A suspicious fire claimed a building commonly referred to as the "swimming pool hall" in Edzo last weekend.
According to a press release from the RCMP, police and firefighters responded to a fire at the Edzo aquatic complex in Behchoko on Oct. 12 at 3:06 a.m.
The Behchoko fire department was able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other buildings, and no one was injured as a result of the blaze. However, the outdoor pool facility was burned entirely to the ground, leaving behind nothing but a smouldering pile of debris.
RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko told News/North the fire is believed to be suspicious and the office of the fire marshal is currently leading an investigation into its cause. Sturko was unable to say whether there were any suspects in the case by press time as the investigation is ongoing.
NWT Fire Marshal Chucker Dewar said he has not visited the site but based on photographs of the scene it may be hard to figure out what caused it.
"The stuff I saw, the building looks like there was fairly extensive damage," he said. "Every fire tells a story ... When the damage is that excessive it creates some additional challenges for our investigators to determine the exact cause and origin (of the fire)."
Behchoko resident Mason Mantla shot a video of the fire engulfing the building and posted it on Facebook but declined to comment to News/North.
RCMP are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact them. Dewar also requested that people who took photos of the building during the fire or in the hours immediately after it burnt down to share them with the fire marshal's office.
"If they could contact the office of the fire marshal with that information we would really appreciate that," said Dewar.
