PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG
Pangnirtung residents were without power and heat Thursday after a fire at the hamlet power plant in the early hours.

Staff members at the community health centre in Pangnirtung are monitoring vulnerable patients after a fire at the power plant disrupted electricity to the community early Thursday morning. - NNSL file photo

A local state of emergency was declared in the hamlet, stated Hillary Casey, an information officer for Nunavut Emergency Management.

The hamlet's long distance telephone and Internet services were degrading as the day wore on Thursday, with Northwestel reporting it could maintain local calling capabilities as long as its backup power remained in service.

The fire started at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, and firefighters were able to put it out. Qulliq Energy Corporation crews arrived in the hamlet at 6 a.m. to assess the damage, and more were on their way Thursday to help co-ordinate an emergency plan.

QEC was working to bring more generators into service to ease the load on the hamlet's backup generator.

Residents are being asked to conserve power and water, and can get warm at Attagoyuk Ilisavik School. To prevent freeze-ups, residents are advised to run their water taps periodically. Those using portable heaters are advised to ensure proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Residents with vulnerable health conditions are being monitored by community health staff, and may be airlifted to Iqaluit if conditions worsen, a government release stated.