Suspected arsonists and vandals destroyed a newly-constructed building at the Marsh Lake dump either late New Year's Eve or early New Year's Day.

'It's been a real kick in the gut to have this happen,' Gloria Johnson, president of the Marsh Lake Solid Waste Management Society, said in an interview this morning.

The fire destroyed the free store operated by the society, one of three buildings constructed during last October's barn-raising day following a blaze last March that destroyed the two main buildings operated by the society.

The cause of last year's fire was ruled inconclusive by the RCMP, Johnson pointed out.

There's little doubt, she indicated, that this week's fire was arson.

In addition to the destruction of the free store, vandals smashed the windows in the modest business office and kicked in the door. Everything inside the desk and filing cabinet was removed and thrown about, and the chimney for the woodstove was dented in.

'To think someone is out there to do this to what is essentially a free service to the community, built by volunteers in the community....' Johnson said, sounding disappointed.

The free store was a three-sided structure with aluminum siding and roofing. It featured an open front to allow easy access for locals wanting to dispose of goods they believed were still of value to someone else.

Johnson estimates the loss of the building is in the $4,000- to $5,000-range, not including labour, as it was all volunteer but for the one professional carpenter hired to manage October's one-day construction project.

'We had a barn-raising in October,' she recalled. 'In one day, we put up all three buildings, with about 20 volunteers.'

Whitehorse RCMP are asking anyone may have been at the dump during the late hours of Dec. 31 or the early Jan. 1, and who may have noticed any people in the area or suspicious activity, to contact the RCMP detachment at 667-5571, reads a press release issued today by the police. There is also the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Johnson said the fiery destruction was reported early into daylight hours Monday by a local resident dropping off material at the landfill, located off the Alaska Highway.

Marsh Lake fire chief Juergen Willms said a full complement of eight or so volunteer firefighters responded to the smoldering scene, as they were all at his house to bring in the New Year with a breakfast.

There was nothing to do when they arrived at the scene, as the free store had completely burned down by then, he said.

Johnson said the waste management society has already decided that after the holiday season, the gate to the dump will be locked and only open when the recycling facility is staffed.

The society, she explained, has embarked on a pilot project to collect and handle recyclable material, as well as manage the landfill, under a Yukon government grant to provide funding for a total of 40 part-time hours a week for two attendants.

Funding for the work, she explained, is expected to be taken over by the Department of Community Services at the end of March, based on the results of the pilot project.