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Fire leaves Faro no place to fuel up

Nearly two weeks after fire gutted Faro’s Shell station, local residents are still without a place to buy fuel close to home.

Nearly two weeks after fire gutted Faro’s Shell station, local residents are still without a place to buy fuel close to home.

“It’s tough, of course it’s tough,” said Faro Mayor Michelle Vainio on Thursday.

The town has given the gas company until Friday at noon to decide whether or not it will rebuild.

If the answer is no, then Faro will consider other options.

“We’ve had a couple of companies approach us already and it’s comforting to know that people have faith in Faro,” said Vainio.

In the meantime, residents are storing gas in Tidy Tanks and barrels.

“People are making do — this isn’t a forever thing and people are making do until something happens.”

Many are conserving their fuel.

“We’ve got to make sure we have enough fuel for the fire truck and ambulance and we’re OK there.

“My big concern is for the ones that work at the mine, or have to travel a little further to come back and forth to town.”

Ross River, which is nearly 75 kilometres away from Faro, is the closest community to fuel up in.

“It is a distance and you’re burning gas to get there and back, but it is only about 50 minutes away,” said Vainio.

The fire began on the morning of September 4, and was reported after a Yukon government employee noticed heavy smoke pouring out of the gas station.

Local RCMP and the Faro volunteer fire detachment responded to the call at 5:30 a.m. and put out the blaze by 7 a.m.

There was severe damage to the building, but no damage to the fuel tanks.

Faro RCMP have deemed the fire suspicious and are still investigating.

“It’s going to be a lengthy investigation,” said Faro RCMP Const. Dale Ristau on Thursday.

Police are asking members of the public who have any information about the incident to call the Faro RCMP at 867-994-5555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.