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UPDATED: Two occupants escape burning houseboat; one sustains non-life-threatening injury

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RCMP have confirmed one person sustained non-life-threatening injuries when a houseboat on Yellowknife Bay was gutted by fire early Wednesday morning.

The Yellowknife Fire Division (YKFD), along with RCMP, got called out to the burning vessel in front of the Government Dock around 3:30 a.m., states an RCMP news release.

RCMP say foul play is not suspected.

Crews were prevented from battling the blaze because of thinning ice.

By around 4:15 a.m. the houseboat had been completely destroyed.

Two occupants of the houseboat managed to escape the fire. One individual was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Brendan Burke/NNSL photo.
Nick Pearce/NNSL photo.

John Fredericks, Yellowknife's fire chief, said there are no indicators at this time as to what caused the blaze.

"It's still under investigation," he said.

The territory's fire marshal is also investigating.

The area where the houseboat once stood is home to an iconic cluster of colourful houseboats - a longtime fixture of Yellowknife.

Updates to follow. 

- With files from Nick Pearce

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Nick Pearce/NNSL photo.
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