Igloolik house fire claims one life; two medevaced for treatment

The housing unit in Igloolik, where a fire early May 15 left one child dead and an adult and child receiving treatment for “serious injuries” at a southern hospital. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

(Updated 3:45 p.m.)

One child is dead, while an adult and another child have been medevaced to the south following an early morning fire in Igloolik May 15, the RCMP confirmed shortly after 3:30 p.m. the same day.

The medevaced adult and child are in “serious condition,” police said.

Igloolik Fire Chief Jesse Oolateeta said the fire was contained to the B unit of multiplex house 603, near the edge of town.

He said three tenants were asleep inside when the fire department arrived.

“I can’t provide any more information at this time because it’s under investigation,” Oolateeta said.

Police said Igloolik firefighters were able to remove the three people from inside the burning unit. But for one child, it was too late.

“Unfortunately, one child rescued from the dwelling has succumbed to their injuries. Another child and one adult rescued remain in serious condition and have been medically evacuated from the community,” the Nunavut RCMP said in a news release.

The Nunavut fire marshal’s office is investigating and “V” division support service members will help with the investigation, the RCMP said.

There were no injuries to people living in adjoining housing units.

One local source had told Nunatsiaq News she saw a lot of smoke in the sky around 7:30 a.m. May 15.

Solomon Allurut from the Igloolik Housing Association has confirmed the fire took place in unit 603B and that only one unit in the multiplex building was affected.

(With files from Thomas Rohner)

(More to follow)