Pamela Corie
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 04/04) - A trailer fire early Sunday afternoon has left a mother and her five children homeless.

"The call came in at 12:03 and it was already auto venting-had visible flames-when we arrived," said Deputy Fire Chief Darcy Hernblad.

"When we got to the scene everyone was out of the trailer. There were six people - a mother, three teenagers and two young children."

According to Hernblad, the fire at 20 Larocque Crescent was in the roof and proved difficult to extinguish.

"It was a very stubborn fire and all efforts put into it were twice as hard," he said. "Everyone got out, though two were sent to the hospital with smoke inhalation and minor burns."

The mother and her children are being taken care of by Red Cross, now that their home is unlivable.

Though the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, Hernblad said it should not be too difficult to determine what happened.

"I heard it was a candle that was left unattended, but I'm not sure" said Brian Kolback, a next-door neighbour.

"I just saw smoke at first and saw everyone get out. I grabbed the dog that was tied up and it all went really quick after that. The mother had a plan though, so thank God everyone got out."

According to Kolback, the smoke and flames engulfed the trailer in less than 10 minutes. "That place is totalled," he said.

"There is extensive damage and in my opinion it will be a write-off," agreed Hernblad.