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Five left homeless in weekend blaze

Fire destroys taxi dispatch centre, garage and staff house

KIRSTEN MURPHY

Five people were left homeless last Sunday, after fire destroyed the Nanook taxi dispatch and garage — including the staff house attached to the building.

Nanook mechanic Raymond Fasching was taking a shower at about 4 p.m. on July 28 when he heard shouts instructing him to leave the building. Unbeknownst to him, flames were ripping through the garage adjacent to the five-bedroom staff house.

Fasching jumped into shorts and a T-shirt. He escaped with a bag of clothing and his computer. He tried re-entering to building to claim his television and other personal items, but was stopped by emergency officials.

Fasching says he watched in horror as flames engulfed his $20,000 tool box stored in the maintenance bay.

"It’s very disappointing," he said of the 10 charred drawers of wrenches, sockets and power tools. "I’ve lost everything and I lost my job. I’m starting with nothing. I’m determined to find a job. My main concern is housing."

Fasching stayed at a friend’s place this past week. After today, he’s on his own. The four other residents were also relocated on a shortterm basis.

Acting fire chief Rick Hamburg said sparks from a grinder landed on rags on the floor. The sparks caused a blaze, which quickly spread throughout the building. Two Nanook employees tried to extinguish the fire. One was treated for burns to his forearms and was released the same day.

Fire officials let the building burn, fearing that the propane, gas and other volatile petroleum products stored inside might cause an explosion.

"I decided to go into defensive mode. It was too dangerous to send the firefighters in," Hamburg said.

Five water trucks pumping one million gallons of water and 20 firefighters fought the blaze.

White smoke billowed from the structure all night.

Hamburg would not put a cost on the damage, but noted the building, three vehicles and the maintenance bay are write-offs.

Nanook co-owner Gino Larochelle told Hamburg he is covered by insurance. Larochelle could not be reached for comment.

As of press time, bylaw officers had pulled Nanook cabs off the road until another dispatch centre can be established.

Even if the insurance covers Fasching’s tools and tool box, the unemployed mechanic has little hope his loss will be a priority over the bigger ticket items.

Adding insult to injury, Fasching was asked to pay $100 after his niece’s plane ticket went up in smoke and had to be reissued.

"As if I don’t have enough stress," he said.

Equally disappointing is the lack of help for people displaced by such tragedies, Fasching said. Unlike other communities with fire relief funds, no organization has come forward to offer food and clothing vouchers. However, Gordon Barnes of the Oqota Emergency Shelter and the city began collecting donations later in the week.

Despite his misfortune, Fasching was able to see a glimmer of humour in the event.

"I went to Ventures [Arctic Ventures’ video rental outlet] to tell them I would not be returning Moulin Rouge," he said with a smile.

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