Deck fire traps Ndilo residents
Occupants unharmed; fire marshal says cause of blaze remains undetermined
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, August 28, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A small fire on wooded stairs leading up to a home in Ndilo on Thursday morning briefly trapped residents inside, according to the city.
A firefighter stands on a staircase leading to a home in Ndilo where a small fire was reported Thursday at 9:11 a.m. The cause is unclear. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
The city's fire department was called to 126 Sikyea Tili in the community at 9:11 a.m. where there was a report of a deck fire that trapped the occupants, a news release states.
Four firefighters in an engine truck went to the scene but while en route were told the fire had been extinguished.
Chucker Dewar, the NWT fire marshal, said a neighbour saw the fire and used extinguishers to put most of it out.
When firefighters arrived at the address, the deck was still smoldering. The smoldering stairs were fully extinguished by firefighters.
Several people were on a deck at the top of the stairway outside the front of the home.
Deputy fire chief Gerda Groothuizen stated in an e-mail the fire caused an estimated $15,000 worth of damage to the deck, a barbecue, snowmobile and bike.
The cause of the fire remains unclear.
"Unfortunately there was not enough evidence remaining at the scene to determine what occurred," Dewar said. "It may be related to smoking material or it may be suspicious. Unless other evidence comes in it is classified as undetermined."
