Fire crews responding to a blaze at a North Battleford apartment building on Monday. (Ames Leslie/Facebook)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Alleged arsonists arrested

Charges laid after investigation into apartment building fire

Jan 6, 2022 | 5:17 PM

Following several days of investigation, two people have been arrested and charged in relation to the apartment building fire that occurred Monday morning in North Battleford.

Twenty-two-year-old Keeanu Crookedneck and 42-year-old Naomi Jean Yellowtail both face charges of one count of arson with disregard for human life. Crookedneck has an additional arson charge, while Yellowtail also faces one count of breach of undertaking.

The fire, which resulted in significant damage to the apartment building at 1441 102nd St., required multiple fire crews and had several hot spots in the following days. The initial investigation deemed the fire suspicious in nature.

S/Sgt. Jason Teniuk, acting commander of the Battlefords RCMP, thanked the investigators from the local General Investigation Section (GIS), fire department and Saskatchewan Public Safety Association in a media release for their work that lead to the arrests.

“I also want to thank all the emergency personnel who worked bravely, calmly and diligently at a dangerous scene to ensure all residents of this apartment complex were able to escape,” he added.

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Yellowtail appeared in court today, while Crookedneck will appear in court Friday.

As noted by the City of North Battleford yesterday, the building’s residents were successfully evacuated. Seventeen residents and six emergency responders were transported to hospital and have since been released.

North Battleford Mayor David Gillan said the City of North Battleford, The Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army came together to help those staying at local hotels who are victims of the fire, so they can stay on another week.

“There will be extended nights,” he told battlefordsNOW. “We’ve been able to extend it longer so people have a little bit more time to organize their accommodations. It’s humanitarian. People have lost everything. We’re just trying our best to give people a little bit of comfort while they try to reorganize their life here.”

The supporting partners will also be providing some food as well and trying to organize help with clothing as well.

“We’re doing our best,” Gillan said.

Some tenants are clients of social services so they will be looked after through social services directly instead.

In total up to around 40 adults and up to 10 children were displaced as a result of the fire.

“That’s why we are organizing this humanitarian effort to help people,” Gillan said.

He also thanked all the firefighters and other groups who helped during the fire.

“On behalf of the residents of the affected building, city council, and the citizens of North Battleford, I want to thank the brave men and women who responded at such a late hour in such cold temperatures,” Gillan said in a statement. “In particular, I want to thank the dedicated firefighters from the City of North Battleford, the Town of Battleford and the RM of North Battleford who tirelessly worked throughout the night and into the next day to protect people and property. Our heartfelt thank you to you all.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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