INUVIK - Police and firefighters responded to a fire set beside the Mad Trapper during the early morning of July 30, which the RCMP says was lit by an undisclosed number of youths.

Const. Noella Cockney said both departments arrived at the scene on Mackenzie Road between 3 a.m and 3:30 a.m.

The Inuvik Youth Centre was broken into by a group of youths last month. Police say they believe youths also started a fire next to the Mad Trapper bar on July 30. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

She said firefighters were able to put out the blaze "quite quickly."

Residents living in an apartment above the Mad Trapper Lounge spotted the fire and contacted police promptly.

"There was a potential for a huge fire," Cockney said.

Because the incident is still under investigation, Cockney wouldn't say how many suspects police are looking at.

"It's an ongoing investigation and we're following some leads that we have," she said. "Then we'll go from there."

Cockney said because the detachment receives so many calls, it is unable to enforce the youth curfew bylaw, which prohibits those 16 years old and younger to be out in public after 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

"We can only tell them to go home. Whether they do or not is a different story," she said

Dez Loreen, town bylaw officer, told Inuvik Drum last month that the curfew bylaw was being enforced through a partnership between the town and RCMP. Police are still investigating a break and enter that occurred at the youth centre during early hours of July 14, which involved several youths.

Cockney said the break in was caught on an Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) surveillance camera located across the street from the building on Mackenzie Road.

"We're reviewing the IRC surveillance camera and we're talking to a few individuals," she said.

Emma Tius, former youth centre program co-ordinator, said her laptop computer was among a few items stolen from the centre, which amounted to about $5,000 in total, she said. Two digital cameras and a ratchet set were among other items taken, she added.

Tius was working at the centre at the time of the break in, but has since moved on.

She called the incident disheartening, because, among other reasons, the stolen items would mean fewer tools available for the youths.