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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The largest structural fire in Fort Simpson in approximately five years destroyed a garage on Nov. 18.

A fire on 101 Street lit up the night sky in Fort Simpson when flames consumed a garage on Nov. 18. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Fort Simpson Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a phone call from homeowners Chris and Amy Stipdonk. When the firefighters arrived on 101 Street the log structure was already engulfed in flames, with fire reaching 10 metres in the air out of the front door, said Fire Chief Roger Pilling.

"You could see it from a long ways away," he said.

Realizing that none of the garage's contents – including an older truck, a snowmobile and woodworking tools among other items – could be saved, the department's initial concern was the surrounding buildings, including the Stipdonk's house and the neighbour's shed, Pilling said.

The house sustained minor damage to a portion of its siding while a section of the plywood shed was scorched. Pilling couldn't estimate the monetary value of damages caused by the fire.

The Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating the blaze. A snowmobile that was parked inside the garage approximately 25 minutes before the fire started is suspected to be the cause of the blaze, said Pilling.

"The way it was burning there had to be some pretty good accelerants going," he said.

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