In recent years, the majority of fire investigations in Nunavut have concluded without determining an official cause due to challenges faced by investigators related to weather conditions at the fire scenes. Internal issues within the fire marshal’s office have also contributed to the difficulties.
The Nunavut fire marshal’s latest annual report revealed that in 2024, there were 127 fires in the territory. Of these, 96 were classified as undetermined, indicating a lack of sufficient information to pinpoint the cause. The remaining fires were categorized as 26 accidental and 5 arson cases.
Brad Sampson, the owner of The Fire Investigations Company based in Alberta, suggested that investigators may have suspicions about the fire causes but lack concrete evidence to document them. Sampson highlighted the complexities of conducting investigations in Arctic conditions, where winters pose significant challenges such as frozen water during suppression leading to scenes covered in ice and snow.
Moreover, the majority of fire departments in Nunavut rely on volunteer firefighters with limited resources, resulting in more extensive damage to buildings. Sampson noted the scarcity of physical evidence at fire scenes due to extensive destruction, leaving behind mainly charred remnants.
Former fire marshal Tony Noakes raised concerns about issues within the fire marshal’s office, alleging that the Nunavut government is neglecting fire prevention and investigation responsibilities. Noakes, who had previously voiced fire code violations at a men’s jail in 2010, was terminated shortly after and later settled a lawsuit that prevented him from disclosing further details.
The fire marshal’s office has witnessed a series of challenges with multiple resignations and legal disputes over the past decade, with at least five individuals holding the position of fire marshal. Former fire marshal Steve McGean, who served for only eight months in 2025, is now pursuing legal action against the government similar to Noakes. Both parties declined to provide additional comments on the ongoing lawsuit, and the current fire marshal’s office declined an interview request from CBC News.