INUVIK - Firefighters responded to another out-of-control camp fire near Boot Lake Park on Friday evening.

Initially four responders responded to the blaze at around 9:30 p.m., which occurred about 500 metres up from the picnic area along the river. Smoke was already billowing up from the wooded area towards the river by the time they arrived.

A group of firefighters make their way back to the crew after dousing a blaze just outside of Boot Lake Park late Friday evening. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

Armed with axes, shovels and backpack water pumps, the quartet trekked from the picnic area base to the site. They contained the fire until three more firefighters arrived aboard a motorboat operated by a forest management officer. The boat carried a water pump and lines used to draw water from the Mackenzie River. The blaze was extinguished after about an hour and a half.

Volunteer firefighter John Ritchie was among the first responders and said the blaze, which was located approximately 100 feet up from the shore, measured about 50 feet by 10 feet wide and contained several hot spots and smoldering patches.

He said one of the crew's biggest concerns was the buildup of dry wood near the river, which, he said, could have made the fire more serious.

Luckily, he added, everyone was able to work together to quickly extinguish the blaze.

"I wasn't overly concerned because the bush wasn't that dry, so we just contained it so it wouldn't spread.

"What I did like, though, is that forestry worked together with us really well. They have the equipment specifically designed for that and everything went smoothly."

He said one woman near the scene of the blaze said she noticed three or four teenagers running out of the woods near the fire not long before fire crews arrived.

Fire Chief Al German said the department has already responded to twice as many calls compared to this time last year.

"It's been an exceptionally busy year for us," he said.

He said people have to use common sense before and after lighting fires, especially at this time of year.

"They should make sure they know how they're going to put it out before they start it," he said. "You shouldn't try to figure it out afterwards. Have a few buckets of water on hand. Make sure the fire's completely out. You have to use common sense, that's all I can say."