INUVIK - A man who died in a trailer fire nearly two years ago might have been saved if the town's volunteer fire department had more training in first aid, according to the territory's chief coroner.

"Certainly in similar circumstances somebody else's life might have been saved if the fire department did some of these recommendations (outlined in the report,)" said NWT Chief Coroner Garth Eggenberger.

On March 3, Eggenberger released his report into Charles Noksana's death on June 27, 2008, following a four-month investigation into the incident.

It states the Inuvik man was taken out of his burning Balsom Court trailer by firefighters but did not receive first aid treatment before paramedics arrived. Fourteen minutes elapsed from the moment firefighters arrived on scene to the time paramedics showed up. Noksana was not breathing and had no pulse.

The report also stated there was oxygen available on the fire truck but "no one on the fire ground was trained in the use of this equipment."

Fire chief Al German said the department has written a letter in response to the report "challenging (Eggenberger) on a few things." He said he would wait for a response from the chief coroner before making further comment, but he added the department didn't do anything outside of its policies.

The report states Noksana died of smoke inhalation, with acute alcohol intoxication as a contributing factor. The death was ruled accidental. A toxicology report of Noksana's blood and body fluids revealed an alcohol level of 3.59 grams per litre, more than 44 times the legal driving limit of .08 g/l.

The report also cites that Noksana had been treated a month before his death for burns to his left chest caused by a cigarette he dropped while intoxicated.

To avoid "creating too much of a storm," Eggenberger said he didn't want to get into the details of the investigation.

The report makes two recommendations to the town, calling on it to "review the fire department's standard operating procedures to ensure they are compatible with best practices." The second suggests "increasing the level of emergency medical training given to the firefighters on the department."

Eggenberger suggested that the review should be done by an outside party.

"What I suggested to some of the councillors is they bring a fire chief out of Fort Smith or Fort Simpson if they don't want someone out of Yellowknife.

"The fire department has to increase the level of training it currently has. That needs to be upgraded a little bit."

Mayor Denny Rodgers said the town is still dealing with the matter, adding whatever problems are found will be dealt with.

"If any of the procedures weren't followed, then we'll follow up on it to ensure they are," he said.