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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An empty van caught fire Monday morning, erupting into smoke and flames in front of Centre Square Mall on 50 Street.

Fire crews arrived on scene shortly after the blaze began at around 10:44 a.m.

An empty van erupted into flames Monday morning outside Centre Square Mall. Firefighters arrived on scene shortly after the blaze began. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL photo

The 2005 Chevy Astro had been left running and the doors were locked, according to fire chief Albert Headrick.

"There's no suspicion to this at this time," said Headrick. "Cause and origin has not yet been determined."

Fire crews worked to quickly extinguish the fire as many bystanders watched from across the street. One man standing in front of the Gold Range Hotel was doused in foam used to put out the flames.

The owner of the van, long-time Yellowknife resident Leo Lachowski, was nearby and handed the keys to the firefighters so they could open the back doors.

He said he was inside the mall doing some banking when the fire started and has no idea what caused it.

"I went in to make a bank deposit," he said. "I looked out the window and it was on fire. That's all."

The van was part of the LL Locksmith business's fleet, but Lachowski said the fire would not get in the way of his work.

Another vehicle fire occurred last Friday at a Forrest Drive apartment complex. Police were called to the scene at roughly 4 a.m. The blaze in an SUV began in a parking stall and quickly spread to a wooden parking structure.

"The police arrived on scene and they actually pulled the fire alarm to get people evacuated," said RCMP Const. Kathy Law.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but, said Law, "The fire marshal has been called in and they are continuing their investigation."

Law said there was no reason to suspect any possible link to a fire at same parking stall of the Forrest Drive building on July 26, which the NWT Office of the Fire Marshal had called suspicious. No suspects were found in the summer incident.

No injuries were reported from the incident last Friday and people are asked to stay away from the area for safety reasons. The vehicle fire on Forrest Drive had "no relation whatsoever" to the one in front of Centre Square mall on Monday, said Headrick.