Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 04/02) - More than 50 residents were forced from their apartment building early Thursday morning after a fire broke out in an exit stairwell.

One person was treated for minor smoke inhalation, but there were no other injuries.

The manager of Lakeview Apartments, David Tyler, says he and his children woke to the sound of the fire alarm shortly after 2 a.m.

Tyler ran down the hall to find flames licking out from the fire door of the west stairwell.

"It was a pretty intense fire on the other side," he says.

Tyler and his children then went through the halls banging on doors to wake tenants as the fire department was responding.

"We were in here for probably 15 minutes from the time the alarm sounded, maybe 20," Tyler says. "By that time thick, heavy smoke had reached our apartment."

Twenty-two volunteer firefighters attended the scene shortly after the call was received at 2:10 a.m. The fire was extinguished by 3 a.m.

Residents camped out at nearby Sir Alexander Mackenzie school until they were allowed to return to the building shortly after 5 a.m.

Fire chief Al German says the fire is being investigated as suspicious.