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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - An Avalanche sport utility truck was reduced to a smoldering hulk of metal after it caught fire in Fort Simpson on Nov. 21.

The truck belonging to Laurell Villeneuve caught fire approximately 10 minutes after being driven home and plugged into an outlet, said Roger Pilling, the deputy fire chief for the Fort Simpson Fire Department.

Flames engulf the front end of a Chevy Avalanche sport utility truck on Friday night in Fort Simpson. - photo courtesy of Sean Whelly

A faulty block heater is the suspected cause of the blaze, Pilling said. The fire department received a call to the residence located behind Fort Simpson Beverages at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Pilling said Firefighter Lionel Nadia, who saw the truck while on his way to the fire hall, said flames were coming out of the grill of the vehicle. When the fire department arrived a few minutes later with their gear, the fire had grown.

"The front end of the vehicle was fully involved and it had spread into the cab of the vehicle," said Pilling.

The firefighters quickly attacked the fire. The truck was parked close to a house so the department wanted to ensure the building wasn't in jeopardy, said Pilling.

The fire was short lived. After extinguishing the interior of the cab and opening the hood to put out the fire there the incident was over by 10 p.m. Some members of the department stayed longer to monitor the hot wreckage in case something was still smoldering.

While it was blazing the truck attracted crowds of people who watched the action.

"It was quite well attended by the locals," Pilling said.

The fire caused extensive damage to the vehicle. The seat coverings were burnt off and the dash was melted," he said. The two front tires along with the front of the vehicle were also severely burnt.

"It's definitely a write-off for sure," said Pilling.

The response to the fire shows that the department's training is paying off, he said.

"The crew handled it quite well considering they didn't have a chief or a deputy chief," said Pilling, who didn't arrive at the scene until after the initial attack.

Vehicles can catch on fire as a result of problems with block heaters, said Stephen Moss, the fire marshall for the NWT.

Moss couldn't say how often these types of fires occur, but said he's heard of similar incidents. The fires typically happen when it gets cold and a vehicle is plugged in for the first few times, said Moss.

While vehicles are driven during the summer rocks can fly up and hit the block heater wiring and cause damage.

"It causes a short and electricity causes the rest."

As a precaution, Moss said he personally asks a mechanic to look at the wiring on his vehicle's block heater when he takes it in to be serviced before the winter season.

"Make a point to get the mechanic to check the wiring," he said.

People who are familiar with vehicle maintenance could also do the check themselves, said Moss.