Inuvik (May 21/04) - A burning gymnasium is what greeted Samuel Hearne secondary school students and staff expecting to return to class Monday, following the May 5 collapse of the foyer roof that closed the school for more than a week.

Inuvik's fire department responded to a call at 6:28 a.m. Monday morning after someone reported smoke coming from under the SHSS gymnasium.

Both of the department's pumper trucks were dispatched, along with 22 firefighters, to contend with blaze that had knocked out the school's electricity, telephone and heating.

At 10:50 a.m., fire department officials declared the situation under control. However, the flames were not completely extinguished until 3:45 p.m.

Following an inspection of the site, it was determined that the fire started outside the building in a concealed exit underneath the gym. Later in the day, RCMP charged a 15-year-old Inuvik resident with arson in connection with the fire.

While attempting to reach the gym's roof, volunteer firefighter Duane DeBastien had a portion of his pinky finger severed.

"The worst part about yesterday is that one of our people was injured in a fire that appears to be intentionally set," said fire chief Al German. Captain Julie Miller echoed German's feelings.

"The risk to firefighters when you've got kids intentionally setting fires is totally unacceptable," she said. "What is it going to take? Somebody to get killed before people smarten up?"

In addition, the location and nature of the fire highlighted concerns about the department's ability to work in high places with its current equipment.

In the fire department's attempt to contain the fire, it was decided that a ventilation hole had to be cut out of the gym's roof.

However, without an extendable ladder-equipped truck, German had to commandeer a boom truck from Davis Construction.

"It was the only way to get the heavy equipment up on the roof," he said.

Dennis Berry, Inuvik Volunteer Fire Fighters Association president and department lieutenant, said that with the town expanding, so too must the fire department in order to respond to future emergencies.

"Inuvik has grown faster than our equipment has and without a platform ladder truck anything over three storeys is going to be hard to reach," he said.

"The town has been a great supporter of the department and association, but for the people who volunteer and their families we need to have the proper equipment to handle these situations, and right now we don't."