Investigators are sifting through the top floor of the Montreal Lake band office today, after a fire broke out this morning.
No injuries were reported in the blaze which was called in around 9:30 a.m.
Derek McDonald is a councilor on the reserve who drove by the scene while the fire was still burning, he says he could see smoke coming from the finance office on the top floor:
“Well when I got there they were just shutting off the fire upstairs in the finance office…a lot of smoke.”
Meantime the RCMP say the blaze was put out by the Waskesiu and Weyakwin fire departments along with some office staff who had fire-extinguishers.
Corporal Rob King says the RCMP detachment on the reserve was not damaged.
The flames did damage three of the band’s administrative offices on the second floor.
King adds a fire-examiner has begun an investigation.
At this point the blaze is being investigated as an arson.