Yellowknife (Oct 04/06) - A charred deck is all that remains after a cabin caught fire off the Ingraham Trail, Saturday night.

The cabin, located on a side road near Prelude Lake East, was fully engulfed in flames by the time Yellowknife Fire Department crews were on scene around 10:15 p.m., about 45 minutes after the fire started. The cabin was located about 40 kilometres outside of Yellowknife.

Deputy fire Chief Chucker Dewar said the blaze appeared to have started after hot ashes from a wood stove were improperly dumped and caught fire.

"It's suspected accidental," said Dewar.

"It's been indicated that the cause was improper disposal of hot ashes."

Dewar said that the cabin's residents were sitting on the back porch when the fire started. By the time they realized that their cottage was on fire, it was too late.

"They tried to extinguish the fire with water," he said.

When they saw the flames heading towards some propane tanks, they quickly got out of the way.

One of the propane tanks blew up twice, according to Dewar. The department calls the particular incident a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion.

"They're pretty intense and quite violent," said Dewar.

The fire department estimates the damages caused by the fire to be about $95,000.