That afternoon, Igloolik Mayor Merlyn Recinos called off a state of emergency declared on Wednesday.
Evacuated residents were able to return to their homes on Wednesday night around 9 p.m., according to the municipality s senior administrative officer Joanna Quassa.
Quassa said around 10 volunteers fought the flames with one fire truck and a few water trucks until help came from Iqaluit.
It was windy and around –30 C, according to daily weather averages from Environment Canada.
Igulingmiut are very strong. I know we will work together and, yes, we will get a store back that s my goal.
- Susan Qamaniq, president of Igloolik Co-Op board of directors
Early morning fire destroys grocery and retail store in Igloolik, Nunavut
by The Canadian Press
Last Updated Jan 20, 2021 at 10:58 am EDT
Firefighters battle a fire engulfing the Arctic Co-op grocery and retail store in Igloolik, Nunavut on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Qaatani Sarpinak Mandatory Credit
A fire has destroyed a grocery and retail store in Igloolik, Nunavut.
Photos on social media from the community of about 1,600 show orange flames and black smoke bursting from the Artic Co-op store.
Qaatani Sarpinak, who lives in Igloolik, says the fire started after 4 a.m. and he saw ammunition exploding and vapour coming from propane tanks inside the store.
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Emma Tranter
Firefighters battle a fire engulfing the Arctic Co-op grocery and retail store in Igloolik, Nunavut on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Qaatani Sarpinak Mandatory Credit January 20, 2021 - 10:26 AM
A Nunavut community was under a state of emergency Wednesday after a fire destroyed one of its grocery and retail stores.
Photos on social media from Igloolik, a community of about 1,600, showed orange flames and black smoke bursting from the Arctic Co-op store.
Another photo showed the store s structure slumped on the ground.
In a statement, Igloolik Mayor Merlyn Recinos assured the community it would not run out of food. He said the town s only other grocery store, the Northern Store, would bring in extra product.
Another photo showed the store s structure slumped on the ground.
In a statement, Igloolik Mayor Merlyn Recinos assured the community it would not run out of food. He said the town s only other grocery store, the Northern Store, would bring in extra product. Orders will be bulked up to ensure the community has enough, Recinos said. Our community is now under a state of emergency. Please don t panic.
Recinos said airlines have agreed to give priority to food bound for Igloolik. Prices will be frozen at the Northern Store and flyers with coupons will be distributed to the community, he said.