The Office of the Fire Marshall (OFM) is investigating after yesterday morning’s fire at Rockill Apartments.
Around 5 a.m. yesterday morning Yellowknife RCMP and the fire department responded to a call about a fire at the apartments on 54 Avenue.
While assisting with evacuating the building, one RCMP member suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Stanton Territorial Hospital for medical assessment.
They have since been released and all registered occupants of the building are believed to have been accounted for.
“The rapid spread of the fire created a situation where first responders had to act collaboratively and quickly to contain the danger,” says Inspector Alex Laporte, Yellowknife RCMP Detachment Commander in a statement.
“We are thankful that our members and responders were not seriously injured and that the residents were able to get out safely.”
The now destroyed building housed the YWCA office and transitional housing facility, a 33 unit apartment building housing families who cannot access public or market housing.
The displaced residents are currently being housed in an emergency shelter at the fieldhouse. The Young Women’s Christian Association of Yellowknife (YWCA) NWT says they cannot currently accept clothing and houseware donations as they have nowhere to store them, but they are accepting monetary donations to the YWCA Rockhill Fire Fund, which can be made online.
“An emergency of this magnitude requires a multi-faceted response,” Yellowknife RCMP state in a news release. RCMP also thanked the City of Yellowknife Fire Division, Emergency Medical Response Team, Municipal Enforcement Division and Public Works for their rapid response to the fire.
The RCMP are assisting the Office of the Fire Marshal in its investigation.
