Yellowknife (Feb 10/03) - Ryan Doherty, 29, owns and operates the Yellowknife's Fire Prevention Services Ltd. -- and business is on fire.

Sales have tripled and three employees have been added since Doherty, last year's Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the NWT, took over.

His big customers include diamond mines, government and fire departments.

Yellowknifelife: Briefly tell me about your business.

Ryan Doherty: We handle everything to do with fire safety -- suppression systems, extinguishers, fire gear for fire departments. We do residences, schools, business, you name it.

Yellowknifelife: How did you start?

RD: I started working with the company in '92 out of high school and kind of gradually continued on. This opportunity arose to purchase the business and the rest is pretty much history. I was just a technician for three months, then they promoted me to manager for another three months and then we (Doherty and his father) ended up buying it.

Yellowknifelife: What does your average work day involve?

RD: Quotes, work orders, lining the guys up jobs, just making sure we're running pretty smooth.

Yellowknifelife: Do you work with fire safety?

RD: That's all done through the fire department but depending on who it is we might donate fire extinguishers, or we do rent them for training courses, but we'd rather the fire department handle the courses.

Yellowknifelife: How many people do you employ?

RD: Including myself we have four, in the summertime we have five.

Yellowknifelife: What's the best thing about your job?

RD: I keep my own hours and I'm working towards a future for my kids.

Yellowknifelife: How many kids do you have?

RD: Two. They're eight and two-and-a-half years old.

Yellowknifelife: How long have you lived in Yellowknife?

RD: At least 25 years. I originally came from Iqaluit and then Fort Smith and then Yellowknife.

Yellowknifelife: What's your favourite thing about the city?

RD: The people. I just made a lot of really good friends along the way and kept really close with them.

Yellowknifelife: As a member of the local business community, do you think the economic boom will continue here?

RD: I think so. We have to really focus on what these diamond mines can offer, what we can get out of them, get everything they have to offer.

Yellowknifelife: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

RD: Hopefully starting a different kind of venture here. I'm thinking of selling this and getting my hand into something else.

Yellowknifelife: Any idea what?

RD: Not at the moment but, like I said, I want to prepare a future for my kids.

Yellowknifelife: What's your favourite winter activity?

RD: Snowmobiling. We have a cabin out at Powder Point. A friend and I built it. It took us two years, but we built our own cabin.