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Charges against Yellowknife fire chief stayed

September 2006 – YUKON – Charges have been stayed against Yellowknife Fire Chief Michael Beauchamp stemming from a fatal fire that claimed the life of two fire fighters, the Calgary Herald reported in July. But the prosecution is moving ahead with the case against the city of Yellowknife and Deputy Fire Chief Darcy Hernblad, now acting chief after the recent retirement of Beauchamp.

Crown prosecutor John Cliffe was reported as saying the charge against Beauchamp was stayed after a review of the case. The city and Hernblad have been charged with failing to take reasonable precautions to ensure health and safety and failing to ensure the adequate instruction of each worker under the Northwest Territories’ Safety Act. The charges carry a maximum $500,000 fine, a year in prison or both.

Hernblad is scheduled to stand trial in territorial court Nov. 27 in a separate trial from the city’s, whose  date has not yet been set.

The two fire fighters, Lieut. Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson, died while fighting a shed fire in March 2005.