AKLAVIK - Two Aklavik men are being praised for their heroism after they saved five children and themselves from a house fire.

The blaze broke out in a two-storey, single-unit house on the evening of Jan. 13.

"There were two adults who rescued five children who were within the house," said Const. Philip Zigayer of the Aklavik RCMP.

"Everyone got out alive."

The two adults are a family friend and the father of the children, who are aged from about three to preteen.

Zigayer would not identify anyone involved in the incident.

However, a number of Aklavik residents identified the children's father as Philip Elanik.

Zigayer said one of the adults suffered burns and cuts, and was transferred to Edmonton for treatment. The injuries are considered serious, but not life-threatening.

The constable said his understanding is the children left the burning house through the front door.

"The fire broke out and the adults made sure that everyone was out of the house," he said, praising their actions in an emergency situation where others might have panicked.

Human instinct is to flee a fire, but the men put their own safety aside and ensured the escape of the children, even to the point of suffering injury, he added. "That in my book is heroic."

Zigayer said the injuries to one of the men occurred when he re-entered the house to make sure there was no one else inside.

"The route was cut off by the flames," the officer said. "So he had to leave the residence through a window."

Zigayer said an RCMP investigation has found the fire to be not suspicious, although he would offer no comment on the cause.

The constable said firefighters, police and medical personnel responded quickly to the blaze, and everyone was out of the house by the time they arrived.

Firefighters had to deal with a strong wind in battling the blaze, Zigayer said. "It kept the fire going."

Neighbours sheltered the children right away and took care of everyone, he added. "The community really came together for this one."

The house was destroyed.

- with files from Katie May

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