On December 15th, the Fort McPherson RCMP were called to a complaint reporting a residential fire in the community of Fort McPherson. Officers arrived on scene and assisted the fire department in the response to the fire. An initial investigation supported that the cause of the fire was arson and RCMP officers have been securing the scene since the initial report to allow the Office of the Fire Marshal to attend and conduct a scene examination. A 27-year-old man from Fort McPherson was arrested in connection with the arson during the officer’s initial response. This man was charged and remanded into custody.
On December 20th, the investigator with the Office of the Fire Marshall advised the RCMP that human remains had been located during the scene examination. The identity of the deceased will have to be positively confirmed by a medical examiner however, RCMP have reason to believe that the deceased is Clara Blake who was reported missing in close proximity to the fire.
The investigation into this incident is on-going and the Northwest Territories Major Crime Unit has taken carriage of the investigation. Charges relating to this incident may be upgraded in the future based on the results of the on-going investigation.
The RCMP have expressed their condolences to the family of Clara Blake and the community of Fort McPherson.
