Fire strikes Crestview Manor apartment

A fire broke out at Crestview Manor on Sunday morning, with billowing smoke seen from across the city.

Fire trucks, municipal enforcement officers, RCMP and private security personnel were at the scene at 5001 52 Avenue around 8 a.m.

The smell of smoke was present at the scene but there were no visible signs of a fire outside the building. It doesn't appear that anyone was injured.

The City of Yellowknife issued a news release on Monday morning stating that a call came in to the fire division at about 7:57 a.m. Fire personnel were present for about two-and-a-half hours.

"The Fire Division dispatched a crew of 22 personnel on Engines 8 and 9, Medic 5 and 6 and a rescue truck," stated Alison Harrower, communications and economic development officer. "On arrival to the scene, the crew noted a three story apartment complex showing smoke from the rear side. An evacuation was in progress."

Harrower stated that there were no reported injuries, and following evacuation, residents whose apartments have not been affected returned to their apartments.

The NWT Office of the Fire Marshall is investigating, according to the release.

One resident of four years, who asked not to be named, said she called the fire department around 8 a.m.

She said she believed the fire came from an unoccupied room on the first floor.

"I called the fire department after someone in the building yelled 'fire' and after I smelled smoke," she said.

The occupant, who has been living on the top floor for four years, said she and other roommates didn't have time to grab all of their belongings before leaving.

She said she remains concerned about ongoing partying, pulling of alarms and frequent guests in the building, owned by Northview REIT.

She had thought initially that the yelling about the emergency was due to "usual drunken parties."

Crestview Manor is in the area of two other large apartments that have been destroyed by fire in recent years. Next door is the empty lot that once occupied Polar Apartments, which burned in 2015.

Not far down the street is Rockhill Apartments which was destroyed by a major fire last fall.

Ongoing incidents

The apartment, a 20 unit building with a twin structure next door called Norseman Manor, has been a source of incidents in recent years, as reported by Northern News Services.

Earlier this year, a woman was charged for pulling a fire alarm in the building, following complaints from tenants.

In 2018, the building was also the scene of a bear spray can being released in the first floor hallway, where another woman.

In 2012, there was also a fire from the second floor which caused more than $100,000 worth of damage.

A representative from Northview Apartment REIT declined to comment on Monday when asked about the extent of the damage or the impacts on residents due to the fire.