Jan. 2 Iqaluit fire sends three to hospital

“We attacked the fire very aggressively”

An early morning fire at building 2218 in Iqaluit sent three people to hospital Jan. 2. (PHOTO BY DEAN MORRISON)

Three Iqaluit residents ended up in hospital Jan. 2, following a fire that broke out in their Iqaluit social housing unit.

The fire department responded to a 4 a.m. call on Jan. 2, and headed to building 2218, where they found a fire burning in the rear of the building.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, after managing to contain it to only one unit in the four-unit building.

“We attacked the fire very aggressively,” said Iqaluit Fire Chief Blaine Wiggins. “As a result we were able to confine it to the one unit.”

Responders took a woman and two children to the Qikiqtani General Hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation.

The children have since been released, while the woman remains in hospital.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and police and fire officials continue to investigate.

Wiggins said that apart from the Jan. 2 fire the holiday season was one of the safest and most quiet in recent memory.