Photo: Smoke from dump fire closes schools

Students of Joamie Ilinniarvik School in Iqaluit take a morning recess break, June 6, on the school grounds overlooking the city’s smoking landfill fire. The school was closed the day before, when westerly winds blew the smoke directly towards the school and surrounding neighbourhoods. Aqsarniit Middle School and Nanook Elementary School in Apex kept their doors closed June 6 because of smoke from the dump fire — which blew largely out of the northwest and onto their school grounds in the morning. Nunavut’s department of health warned that westerly winds were forecast for most of the day “which may bring dump fire smoke over parts of the city.” The city’s fire department has limited the blaze to a single pile in the landfill since it started May 20, and decided to let the fire burn itself out due to lack of resources, and environmental, health and safety concerns. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)