(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

RCMP investigation

Trial underway for accused in North Battleford apartment building fire

May 29, 2023 | 3:39 PM

A trial started Monday for a woman facing charges related to an apartment building fire in North Battleford last year that destroyed the building and left many families homeless.

Naomi Jean Yellowtail, of North Battleford, 43, is charged with arson with disregard for human life, and breach of undertaking.

Yellowtail, who is in custody, appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court in person, wearing a white T-shirt, for the trial.

Crown prosecutors in the case are Scott Bartlett and Cara Hill. Lawyers Carl Swenson and Michael Nolin appeared for the defence, with Judge Michelle Baldwin presiding.

Bartlett said he asked for around 30 witnesses to be subpoenaed for the case.

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The court heard a number of witnesses who received subpoenas failed to attend court. As a result, the court ordered witness warrants to order them to appear.

An RCMP officer told the court several witnesses are transient, and could not be located to advise them to attend court for the trial.

North Battleford Fire Department’s Robert Vanstone Campbell, who has 32 years of experience with the fire department, was one of the first witnesses to take the stand.

Vanstone Campbell said he arrived on the location, at 1441-102 Street after being alerted of the fire at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 3, 2022. He said he focused on trying to extinguish the blaze in ground-floor apartment 105, in the back of the apartment building, where smoke could be seen billowing out of the apartment; flames were also visible.

“It was rapidly growing,” Vanstone Campbell said.

Another complication were strong southernly winds that night, which made matters worse.

Vanstone Campbell attempted to get the fire under control, while some other crews focused on setting up ladders to assist people who were on their balconies calling for help.

After about 10 to 15 minutes, Vanstone Campbell looked to secure another water supply.

He could see the size of the fire was increasing.

The trial is scheduled to run until June 1.

The co-accused Keeanu Crookedneck was previously sentenced to three years in prison on Sept. 30, 2022 after pleading guilty to arson with disregard for human life.

According to prior reports, in total up to around 40 adults and up to 10 children were displaced as a result of the fire that destroyed the apartment building.

The building’s residents were successfully evacuated. Seventeen residents and six emergency responders were transported to hospital and were later released.

—

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow