WHITEHORSE, Y.T. - Fire Monday destroyed four buildings in downtown Whitehorse, sending more than 30 persons into 45-below weather from their hotel rooms and apartments.
First reports said no one was injured in the blaze. Whitehorse fire chief Fred Blaker said damage was expected to total $500,000.
The blaze began about 9:00 a.m. and the city's four-man fire department, aided by Canadian Army firefighters, Monday afternoon brought it under control.
Burned Out
The fire burned out the three-story frame Edgewater Hotel, the Edgewater and Hollywood restaurants, a law office, pool hall, beer parlor, plumbing and heating shop, barber shop, shoe store and several apartments above the pool hall and plumbing shop.
The buildings are all on First Avenue adjacent to the city's main street.
Electrical power was detoured around the area of the fire for safety reasons, temporarily leaving about a quarter of the city's residents without their electrically-powered oil furnaces in the bitter cold.
No Power
Residents without power were worried that their water lines would freeze up if they didn't get their furnaces working again.
The Edgewater Hotel desk clerk said there were about 25 people in the hotel when the fire broke out. About eight were believed to have evacuated the apartments.
Reports say the fire started when a fan overheated in the Edgewater restaurant, located in the hotel building. Waitresses discovered the fire and rushed down hotel corridors to evacuate residents.
