Inuvik (Jan 19/07) - A room in a residence on Alder Drive in Inuvik was gutted by fire last Wednesday afternoon.

Frank Edwards, the renter of the unit that caught fire, said he believed the blaze was caused by a DVD player.

Flames shoot out of the window of the home where a fire started Jan. 10. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"My granddaughter discovered the fire and told my wife, who was the only other person at home at the time," said Edwards.

Edwards said it was once the fire was discovered that the fire department was called and the two family members left the house.

The Inuvik fire department got a call about a fire at 4:51 p.m. on Jan. 10.

The fire chief was on site shortly after the call, with the rest of the firefighters arriving less than five minutes later.

"The pumper truck and 16 firefighters arrived shortly after the chief," said deputy fire Chief Julie Miller.

Volunteer firefighter Mike Orbell was one of those called to the scene.

Orbell said he was on the way to a friend's place for dinner when his pager beeped.

"We were right near the fire hall, so they dropped me off," said Orbell. "It couldn't have been faster."

The fire was contained to one room, which had flames shooting high into the dark sky.

"The room of involvement was significantly burned," said Miller.

The rest of the house was saved from the fire, but Miller said smoke and water damage was found throughout.

No cause of the fire has been identified yet, but Miller said it does not look suspicious.

"We are still investigating the fire at this time," said Miller.

Although the flames were limited to one room, Edwards said the whole house was affected.

"We had to brush away ash and soot from the furniture, but most of it is washable," he said.

Edwards said he is now in a temporary residence with his wife and granddaughter.

Nearby resident Daniel Allen said he saw the fire from his house, which is only a block away.

"The flames were huge," said Allen.

"I noticed it right away and came down to check it out."

Some eyewitnesses said the flames shot higher than 30 feet in the air.

Liquor store employee Brendan Cathers said the fire was visible from the store, which is across town.

"We saw the fire from here, the flames were pretty big," said Cathers.