Youth charged with arson after Iqaluit Northmart fire

A 17-year-old youthhasbeen charged with arson and disregard for human life in connectionwith a fire that destroyed the warehouse of Iqaluit's largest grocery store.

The fire was extinguished overnight after raging for 22 hours. No injuries were reported.

RCMP announced Friday morning in a news release that police are working with the Nunavut fire marshal's office and hadtwo youths in custody who faced charges forarson and disregard for human life.

Later in the day, the RCMP confirmed to CBC News that one of the youths had been questioned and released.

The 17-year-oldwill remain in custodyand appear in court Nov. 13.

The names of the youth, which are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act,weren't disclosed.

RCMPDistrict Commander Mark Crowther said in the initial release that police and fire personnel "are working diligently to ensure public safety and bring those responsible to justice."

• Prices won't rise after Iqaluit grocery store burns, Northmart says

Iqaluit's mayor, Madeleine Redfern, tweeted early Friday that the fire at Iqaluit's Northmart was "largely out" overnight. She said firefighters were able to save the building's main store, though it suffered significant smoke and water damage.

"It will take time to assess and undertake the necessary repairs and replacement of the lost sections of the other buildings," said Redfern.

A total of sixfires burned in the community Thursday, destroying Northmart's warehouse area where food that comes up bysealiftis stored and threatening nearby elders' residences.

Firefighters from other Nunavut communities, including Pangnirtung and Cape Dorset, flew to Iqaluit on Thursday to support local crews.

After suspending delivery for the day in order to allow crews to fight the fire, Iqaluit's trucked water services resumed Friday morning. However, Redfern says the city is still asking residents to conserve water.

Nutrition North may help hold down prices

The fire led to immediate concerns about food security in Nunavut's capital city, with many concerned about where non-perishable goods would be stored and the cost in shipping them to Iqaluit.

The city'ssealiftseason barges carrying food and goods for residents recently ended, and any replacement goods will need to be flown to Iqaluit.

"I think the biggest impact that we'll see is a whole year's supply of dry goods, everything they brought in by sealift, is gone," said Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo. "Northmart is the largest retailer in Iqaluit so all your flour, sugars, diapers, cleaning supplies, canned goods I'm sure they had all their Christmas stock in, Easter. All that's gone."

Tootoo says he has spoken with both of Iqaluit's major retailers to ensure prices remain stable in the community. Yesterday, Alex Yeo, the president of Canadian retail for the North West Company, said prices will not rise as a result of the fire.

• Ottawa business races to fill orders after Iqaluit grocery store fire

However, federal Northern Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says his office is looking into using the Nutrition North food subsidy program to ensure that prices remain stable.

"I don't want people in the North to be gouged, whether deliberately, or simply by virtue of a lack of supply," said LeBlanc. "The price cannot be pushed up because of a circumstance like this, so we will work with the territorial government to ensure we do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

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LeBlanc said his department will work with other levels of government to ensure a stable supply of food and goods to the capital, and that the federal government has offered a military airlift to the community, if needed.

"For the moment they believe the situation is under control, and they have the resources they need," said LeBlanc. "But we will continue to work with them."

Crews battle fire at Iqaluit's Northmart

6 years ago

Duration 1:33

The fire has forced residents in nearby homes to evacuate

With files from Kieran Oudshoorn, Hannah Thibedeauand Heather Hiscox