Inuvik (May 07/04) - Minutes before students were to arrive for the day at Samuel Hearne secondary school in Inuvik yesterday, the foyer roof collapsed, leaving a pile of rubble where tables and chairs once sat.

Al German, director of protective services for the Inuvik fire department, said an accumulation of snow on the foyer roof was to blame.

The roof was carrying the heavy load from the season's higher than average snowfall, he said.

"The foyer has a lower roof between two higher roofs. There is a 40-foot space between the two buildings which had the snow load on it," German said.

No one was hurt in the collapse.

About 15 firefighters attended the near-tragedy at approximately 8:09 a.m., German said.

School principal Peter Hough and several teachers were the only people in the school at the time.

They could not be reached for comment before deadline.

Minutes after the collapse, at 8:30 a.m., students were to begin arriving for the day.

Mike Carruthers, a maintenance worker at the school for five years, said 8:30 a.m. is always a busy time in the school foyer.

Standing outside near the collapse, he pointed to the flattened area.

"That's where the kids always sat around in the morning and at lunch," he said.

The school will be closed until further notice.