A Pelly Crossing teenager has been arrested and charged with arson after a devastating fire at the village's commercial centre early Thursday morning.

In an RCMP media release issued Thursday afternoon, police said they have charged a 15-year-old male with arson and showing disregard for human life under the Criminal Code of Canada.

'On Thursday, February 22, 2007, the RCMP Pelly Crossing detachment successfully arrested an individual in relation to the fire incident ...' the release states.

Thursday's blaze, to which police were alerted at 1:10 a.m., was deemed suspicious by Jake Brown, the village's volunteer fire chief, RCMP reports state.

Thursday's fire destroyed the village post office, the TD-Canada Trust Bank and a tire shop.

The motel and grocery store, Selkirk Groceries, at the Klondike Highway location were saved.

Two people staying at the hotel were able to escape the building unharmed.

In an interview this morning, Brown said when he and Pelly firefighters arrived on the scene, he immediately noticed the fire had originated at the tire store, an establishment that's no longer in use.

Brown said the fire jumped from the tires, climbing the walls until the flames reached the ceiling and then began to spread.

'Ceiling fires like that are hard to extinguish,' he said.

'I brought in the heavy equipment to help with the fire,' he said, adding that a front loader was used to get at the fire.

'We had it under control within an hour and half,' he said.

Brown said about 15 to 20 Pelly Crossing residents came out to assist with the firefighting effort.

'The response was really great; people acted selflessly,' he said.

Brown said the fire was a loss to the village as the Klondike Highway location is the only location to get supplies.

'It's the commercial centre; it's kind of like the nerve centre of town,' he said.

'It makes it difficult, especially for the elderly who may have to go to other centres like Mayo or Whitehorse to get what they need,' he said.

'By the looks of it, it's going to be shut down for a while yet,' he said.

Bob Pozzo, Selkirk Groceries' assistant manager, said this morning store employees are trying their best to get the store ready. At noon today, they were waiting on word from authorities before opening their doors to the public.

'We're waiting for calls from the RCMP and the electricians before opening up,' he said.

Pelly resident Marvin Cleave said this morning the fire was a blow to the community.

'It shouldn't have happened,' he said.

'There' s no gas, no groceries and you can't cash a cheque. Everyone's waiting to cash their cheques but there's nowhere to go.'

Pelly RCMP Const. Karen Olito said Thursday valuables and mail taken from the fire are being safely stored at the Pelly detachment.

Olito said the commercial area was known to have some problems, but has never experienced something as serious as arson.

'Not really, just the average problems like intoxicated people in front of the store.'

The village of 350 people is located on the North Klondike Highway between Carmacks and Stewart Crossing.