Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 05/02) - A fire Wednesday evening drew dozens of onlookers, ruined a man's business plans, and cost $130,000 in damages.

A firefighter attempts to douse flames from a camper bus and truck parked next door to the burning home. -- Robert Dall/NNSL photo

Twenty firefighters and six emergency vehicles rushed to a house fire at 5 Forrest Drive Trailer Park at approximately 7 p.m., and worked furiously in an attempt to keep the blaze from spreading to other trailers mere meters away.

Although firefighters were able to quickly control the fire, smoke could be seen rising over downtown for several hours.

Flames were shooting up from the trailer's roof as high as six metres until firefighters doused the blaze with a water cannon attached to a ladder.

Bylaw officers had to warn the crowd to move back several times.

The fire completely engulfed the home, as well as a camper bus parked next door. A pick-up truck and trailer next door were also damaged.

Rick Goit owned the bus. He was able to move his motorcycle, parked out front of the trailer, but watched helplessly as flames engulfed his camper vehicle.

"I just lost my business," said Goit, who was planning to convert it into a tattoo parlour. "Doesn't look like that now."

Goit said he was returning to his home next door when he noticed the blaze, and quickly tried to put it out before firefighters arrived.

Goit said a man name "Riel" was living at the residence, which is owned by Lumen Marianayagam.

"I came home, the house was already on fire," said Goit. "The guys were inside playing cards. They were laughing. They didn't even notice the place was on fire."

According to deputy fire chief Sandy McPhee, there were three occupants -- all tenants -- in the house at the time the fire started.

No injuries were reported.

The owner of the trailer was on the scene about 20 minutes after the fire started, and he tried to re-enter the home.

Visibly distraught, he argued with firefighters and police until he was arrested and led away to a RCMP police truck.

RCMP staff sergeant Al McCambridge said the man was not charged and was released a few hours later.

It remains unclear how the fire started.

The fire department continues its investigation.