Fire wiped out his Highway 3 cabin in half an hour.

Paradis said the blaze started in his chimney. His girlfriend, cooking inside the cabin, climbed onto the roof and tried unsuccessfully to put out the flames.

By the time fire trucks reached the cabin about 27 kilometres from Yellowknife, the roof had collapsed and there was nothing left to save. Firefighters concentrated on stopping it from spreading.

Paradis left and walked around Yellowknife in shock. He's now staying with a friend.

Monday afternoon, he returned for the first time to see if anything could be salvaged. Only the doorstep and one wall remain upright. His charred belongings lay ruined amid the ashes. He has no insurance.

"All my life was in there," he said. "It's pretty hard to explain how I'm feeling. A little desperate I guess. Desperate to have my home back. It's just starting to hit me."

The self-described loner and bushman survives by hunting for his food. He prefers not to live in the city.

"I'm an outdoor person. I've been hunting all my life, living off the land."

He's still figuring out what to do. "I'm going to leave it up to him," he said pointing at the sky.

But Paradis is looking for work, hopefully with one of the mines so he'll have a place to stay.

"I'll take anything that's available," he said. "I'll go clean floors."

Paradis doesn't know how the fire started, since he keeps his chimney clean.

Lieut. Darcy Hernblad said the fire marshal's office is still investigating.

Monday afternoon, after returning from surveying the damage, Paradis was upset but philosophical.

"They say things happen for a reason.

"Well, it better be good. (God) and I, we're going to have a chat."