Iqaluit fire leaves dozens of people homeless as temperatures near -50C

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By Nunatsiaq News

Firefighters Monday were still on the scene of a terrible fire in downtown Iqaluit overnight which devastated a 22-unit block of row houses, leaving dozens of people homeless as temperatures dipped below -48 C with the wind chill.

Volunteers were coordinating to set up donation drop off points for those who fell victim to the fire.

Nearby Nakasuk Elementary School, which suffered flooding from water used to fight the fire during the night, remained closed as well as three other city schools.

Shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, flames continued to spiral high above the 300 block of Creekside Village, after a fire that started just before 10 p.m. Sunday resisted the efforts of firefighters trying to contain the blaze in the midst of -50 C windchills.

At about 10 p.m., the first fire alarms alerted residents of the 22 three-bedroom units that make up the 300 block of row houses, all but one occupied by Nunavut Arctic College students and their families.