Second fire not suspicious: chief
Firefighters extinguish grass fire Thursday evening at site of barn fire deemed 'suspicious' Wednesday night
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, May 11, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There is nothing suspicious about a second fire in as many nights at a property on the western edge of city limits, according to Fire Chief Darcy Hernblad on Friday.
Firefighters returned to the scene of a barn fire on the western edge of the city limits Thursday evening to extinguish
a grass fire. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Fire crews put out a grass fire Thursday evening on the site of the former Rocking Horse Ranch on Highway 3 across from the Trapper's Lake Spirituality Centre. The fire less than 24 hours before that completely destroyed a barn on the site that was no longer in use.
"There were fresh tire tracks from a 4X4 last night and it may be that the exhaust pipe came in contact with the dry grass and that could have started the fire," said Fire Chief Darcy Hernblad. "Or it could have been a discarded cigarette butt. It does not appear intentional."
It was Hernblad who called Wednesday night's fire suspicious, adding the barn was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. There was no electricity to the barn, he said. Two other nearby buildings that appear abandoned were not touched by the fire. No one was hurt in either fire. The NWT Fire Marshal and RCMP continue to investigate.
Chucker Dewar, the NWT fire marshal, reminds people who own unused buildings that they must be secure so they can't be entered without a key.
