Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 27/01) - An early-morning fire Monday completely destroyed a two-storey cabin on Prelude Lake, causing an estimated $100,000 worth of damage.
"By the time we got there, the place had burned down to the foundations," said Yellowknife deputy fire chief Mike Lowing.
Yellowknife resident Ed Eggenberger owns the cabin with his wife, Cheryl. The couple lease the cabin out in the summer.
He says he found out about the fire "around 12:30 (in the morning). I think whoever called the fire department called me right after."
Firefighters received a call from neighbouring homes shortly before 12:30 a.m. Callers reported hearing an explosion at the residence. A four-truck fire crew made the 40-kilometre trip out to the cabin.
Firefighters could easily see the smoke plume from the Ingraham Trail and worked to contain the embers after arriving.
Lowing said that weather conditions worked to firefighters' advantage.
"It was quite cold, there was no wind, and the humidity was high. That's in contrast to normal June conditions with high winds, and dry conditions," said Lowing.
The conditions helped to ensure that the blaze didn't spread to adjacent homes or trees.
A visit to the site revealed how localized the damage was. Smoke still wafted from the embers, a garden not more than three metres from the blaze was left unscathed. Some rhubarb plants a little closer were wilted.
Eggenberger said the home was insured, and that he and his wife had little of monetary or sentimental value in the house.
A Yellowknife man was using the cabin, but had come into town four hours before the blaze began.
NWT fire marshall Don Gillis would not speculate on a cause of fire this early.
Total damage to the property is estimated at $100,000, according to Lowing.
