Timiskaming First Nation arena destroyed by fire

First Nation loses new arena in fire Timiskaming First Nation's new arena destroyed by fire after roof collapse.

Update:

CTV News spoke to Steve King, a councillor for Timiskaming First Nation.

He says the building has been built in phases over the course of ten years.

After receiving an alarm alert around 2 am Monday morning, he says officials and police arrived at the scene expecting evidence of a break in, only to discover the roof had collapsed on the first section of phase two that contained the main roof and recently added jib rock.

At that time, phases three and four of the arena had not fallen in and there was no smoke seen or smelled.

The electricity and water were turned off at the building and the area was roped off.

Students on their way to school on Monday saw the damage, due to the proximity of the arena, upsetting many of them.

The community had finally installed its artificial ice last fall and were looking forward to hosting tournaments and creating its own hockey association.

At 1 pm, flames started in the arena building.

Fire trucks from the nearby communities of Notre-Dame-du-Nord, Nédélec, and Guigues rushed to help and remained on scene until Tuesday morning to ensure the flames were extinguished.

King says the community is covered by insurance, but is concerned that it won’t be enough to replace what they lost.

Timiskaming First Nation has approximately 2,800 members with around 800 living on the reserve.

Jennilee Wahsquonaikezhik lives next door.

CTV News will continue following the story and provide updates as new information becomes available.

Original:

A fire early Monday morning has destroyed a hockey arena and community hall just east of Temiskaming Shores near Notre-Dame-du-Nord, Quebec.

The arena, which held its grand opening this past December, is located on Timiskaming First Nation, close to the Quebec.

Officials are saying the arena is a total loss, adding heavy snowfall on the roof led to the collapse and subsequent fire.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

Several people and organizations have expressed their condolences on social media: