Yellowknife RCMP investigate fire related incident at downtown building

January 15, 2020
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

News release

Yellowknife RCMP responded to a call for service on January 14 at approximately 3:10 pm about a fire related incident at a building in downtown Yellowknife.

City of Yellowknife Fire Division attended. There were no reported injuries. Damage to the building has not yet been assessed, but is not believed to be structural.

The Northwest Territories Office of the Fire Marshal is assisting the RCMP in their investigation into the incident.

While the cause of the fire has not been determined by the Office of the Fire Marshal, the RCMP investigation is open and ongoing.

Early investigation indicates the fire may have been human caused. The investigation will continue with the assistance of Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM).

In speaking with the OFM, the RCMP understands and relays the importance of building owners to maintain safety systems. In this case, the sprinkler systems were functioning, and contributed to the containment of the fire, thus preventing injuries and potential serious damage to the building.

Yellowknife RCMP Operations Manager, Staff Sergeant Yannick Hamel adds "While our investigation is in it's early stages, RCMP have identified and interviewed a person of interest. Once the OFM has determined the cause of the fire, any criminal element would be determined by the RCMP. No charges have been laid at this time".

Anyone with information on this incident or any suspicious activity is asked to contact either Yellowknife RCMP at 867-669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, www.nwtnutips.com, (click on "submit a web tip") or text: nwtnutips to 274637.

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Contact information

Marie York-Condon
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Media Relations
Northwest Territories RCMP – Yellowknife, NT
Office: (867)765.3709
RCMP.NTMedia-NTMedias.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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