Manitoba reserve declares state of emergency after devastating fire

The fire started mid-afternoon in the band office in Shamattawa, around 750 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, before it spread to the grocery store next door.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who were investigating the case, say six kids were involved in setting the fire. Five of them are under 12 and thus cannot be charged for the offence.

The other 12 year old was arrested and released on a promise to appear before the court.

Shamattawa Chief Jeffrey Napaokeisk said the band office staff were several kilometers away attending a funeral when the fire started.

“We got word that the band office was billowing smoke and the windows were on fire,” Napaokesik told CTV Winnipeg. “Our band office completely burned down, the walls collapsed."

The devastating fire also destroyed the only radio station and post office that were also located close to the band office and the grocery store. However, officials say no injuries were reported.

Napaokesik told CTV Winnipeg that there will be an emergency store set up in a different location but there will not be enough supplies for the 1,500 people that live on the reserve. He also mentioned there will be absence of baby formula milk, fresh food and clean drinking water.

“It’s a total loss and it’s kind of a shock to us,” said Napaokesik. “This is very unexpected.”

The fire was being fought by volunteer firefighters who initially ran into trouble when their fire truck wouldn’t start.

The Red Cross is presently working to bring in food and emergency supplies to the community using chartered  and commercial airplanes .

(Reporting by Debarati Mukherjee)