Inuvik (Aug 25/06) - A grease fire that started in a home Monday morning was kept from blazing out of control by an RCMP officer and two bystanders.

Brothers Dan and John Blake happened to be at the scene when RCMP Const. Adam MacDonald arrived at 5 Natala Drive.

A scorched stove sits in the midst of charred debris in the kitchen of 5 Natala Drive after a fire started early Monday morning. The cause of the fire is believed to have been a stove element left on, unattended. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Two children, aged five and nine, were asleep in the rented rowhouse when a fire broke out in the kitchen. They were awakened by the smoke detector and managed to escape out the back door and call police. Their mother had already left for work as had the children's 16-year-old brother. A 22-year-old male sibling was at a friend's home when the fire occurred.

MacDonald said he received a call at the detachment about the fire just after 8:30.

"I arrived and saw that the two brothers were already there," said MacDonald. "I went in with Dan to check for any other people who may have been in the house."

Once a sweep of the upstairs was done, MacDonald and Blake started to keep the flames under control.

"It was so smoky in the house we had to pretty much crawl in," said MacDonald.

"Dan's brother gave us some extinguishers, which we used then left the house."

The fire department was called at 8:38 a.m. and firefighters were on the scene four minutes later, said acting fire chief Julie Miller.

"That fire burned for seven or eight minutes before we put it out, but the damage was severe," said Miller.

Miller said the assistance given by the by-standers was much appreciated because it lowered the severity of the fire.

"If those guys had not done what they did, it would have been worse," said Miller.

"It was a disaster prevented. The amount of smoke was tremendous and the fire was high heat."

While Miller is thankful for the support given by the community in the matter, she said they put themselves "in great danger."

"It is not safe to run into a burning house. The Inuvik fire department strongly advises against trying to fight a fire yourself."

17 firefighters were on scene

In all, 17 firefighters were on the scene, with one member back at the hall working dispatch.

The children's mother, Evelyn Bullock, said she's happy her children are safe.

"The safety of my family is all that matters to me."

It's believed that the fire was caused by a burner left on the stove from breakfast.

"The fire was an accident and these things happen," said Bullock.

The fire caused extensive damage to the kitchen and there was smoke and water damage throughout the rest of the unit.

The family spent the past couple of nights in a hotel.