Extent of fire damage at centre still unknown
Another fire broke out at the Canada Games Centre this morning.
By Max Leighton on November 2, 2011
Another fire broke out at the Canada Games Centre this morning.
It began at approximately 11: 40 a.m. in one of the air handling units inside the ATCO arena.
The fire was quickly extinguished and does not appear to have caused much damage, Whitehorse fire chief Clive Sparks said early this afternoon.
The Canada Games Centre remains open today, with regular programming continuing in spite of the fire. Both of the facility's arenas, however, are closed because of air quality issues.
"We haven't evacuated the building but they have closed some sections off due to increased levels of carbon monoxide,” said Sparks. "The ATCO and Northwestel arena will remain closed until damage to air handling units can be assessed. Other areas at the games centre will remain open and normal operation will continue.”
No injuries have been reported.
"Staff at the games centre quickly evacuated the area and luckily, no injuries occurred,” said Art Manhire, indoor facilities manager for the centre.
Firefighters do not believe the fire was deliberately set.
"The fire department has begun an investigation and believed the fire started in one of the air handling units and damage is localized in the unit,” said Sparks.
A major blaze occurred at the centre on June 24. Two youth have been charged with arson in relation to the fire, which caused upwards of $5 million in damage.
It is still unclear whether today's fire occurred in one of the new special-order de-humidifing units which needed to be replaced following last summer's blaze.
City officials say they will issue a full report by the end of the day.
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