Fire crews battled a major blaze at Building 157 in downtown Iqaluit on Tuesday.
The structure, which contains the Nunatsiaq News office and the Ayaya marketing and communications agency, was practically destroyed by 1 p.m., with only the charred remains of the black wall visible.
Clouds of acrid smoke billowed into the sky during the morning, but the blaze was contained to the single structure and largely extinguished by early afternoon.
The rest of the street was closed off for emergency crews along Iqaluit’s harbourfront.
The City of Iqaluit issued a news relase advising residents of traffic disruptions along Nipisa Street due to the emergency.
“Please avoid Nipisa Street for the duration of the fire, to give our firefighters the room they need to complete their job safely,” the municipality stated. “Please be aware of City of Iqaluit water trucks also responding to the fire scene. In addition to giving them space on the road, be aware there could be disruptions to trucked water services, as they will be prioritizing emergency response.”