A blaze early Sunday morning in the lower plateau area, or 5300 block, took out several units of a 10-plex, and saw neighbouring multiplexes evacuated.
photo courtesy of Thomas Rohner
So far the City of Iqaluit has not officially confirmed no one was injured, however, neighbours say they saw the residents of the unit where the fire started successfully evacuated.
Emergency responders were on the scene at approximately 6:30 a.m.
"I was woken up shortly after 6:30 in the morning by banging on the door and incessant doorbell ringing. As soon as I woke up I could smell smoke, so I went downstairs," said Thomas Rohner, who was evacuated from an identical 10-plex next to the one on fire.
Rohner and his partner Alex grabbed their dog and cat, as well as a few possessions.
"When I got outside the smoke was so thick that I could barely even see my truck in the parking lot," said Rohner.
By then, firefighters, RCMP and other emergency personnel were on the scene.
The couple drove their truck a bit farther down the road away from the fire. The access to the road out of the lower plateau area was blocked by emergency vehicles, as the road is a cul-de-sac.
photo courtesy Bill Williams
"The fire was in full force, consuming the top right unit of the building next door. The firefighters were trying to get that fire under control for about four hours (after that). In that time, a couple of times, it looked like the fire was almost out, but then there were flames, I think at the back part of the unit and I don't know if the hose could reach back there," said Rohner.
The fire took about four hours to extinguish.
In the midst of the battle to subdue the flames, part of the 10-plex was torn down.
Neighbours from all three buildings stood on the street, watching as firefighters worked to extinguish the stubborn fire.
The morning was cold and windy, and many residents were not adequately dressed. Some stood wrapped in blankets, watching the scene in shock.
"The situation was pretty intense and emotional and stressful for everybody, especially for those who live in the building (on fire). You know people were just concerned, first, to make sure that everybody got out OK and that nobody was hurt," said Rohner.
"And then for their pets, and then for their possessions."
Rohner also witnessed firefighters helping residents salvage some belongings from the burned building after the fire.
Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo
The evening before, several shacks located on the beach were also destroyed by fire.
The City of Iqaluit has not yet released details of that fire, either.
photo courtesy of Bill Williams
