A frigid Fort McPherson, N.W.T., was without power through most of today while emergency workers searched for generators to replace the community's power plant, which was destroyed by fire early this morning.

Crews were working at noon today to complete the hook-up of a generating plant brought down to the community from the highway maintenance camp at the Peel River Crossing, said Kevin Rowe, a spokesman for the N.W.T.'s Emergency Measures Organization.

It was to be operational by this afternoon, though only able to meet limited power needs of the 800 to 900 residents in the community situated on the Peel River in the Northwest Territories, about 60 kilometres from the Yukon-N.W.T. border.

The total blackout comes as temperatures hover around -25 C, with no relief expected.

Rowe said a second generator was being flown this afternoon to Fort McPherson from Fort Resolution, situated on the southern shores of Great Slave Lake.

It's expected the second generator will be hooked up by midnight, he said.

Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. has offered a generator to the communty if it is requaired, company spokesman Ed Sager said this morning.

Rowe said officials with the N.W.T. Power Corp. have indicated they'll be rotating power supply and blackouts through the community when the first generator comes on-line this afternoon.

Homes and businesses will have power for 40 minutes and then no power for the next 40 minutes, to ensure heating systems can at least have a chance to fire up periodically to provide heat for residents and prevent any freezing of water and sewer systems.

There have been no reports of freezing yet, he said.

Rowe said the entire community will have power when the second generator comes on-line, but only a limited amount. Residents are being asked to turn off all non-essential equipment like computers and fax machines in their homes and businesses.

The fire started at the generating station about 2 a.m. However, by the time firefighters could get it under control, the community's only source of power had been destroyed.

The nursing station and RCMP station were the only buildings with their own back-up generators.

Crews from the territory's public works department also scavenged three utility generators from around town to provide power to the seniors' complex.

Smaller generators were also being hooked to the school this morning to provide the community with a central location to gather. Arrangements have been made to provide independent generation to the local Co-op store and the only gas pumps in town.

In the meantime, residents are being asked to stay with friends and neighbours whose homes are equipped with wood stoves, Rowe said.

He said approximately 20 per cent of Fort McPherson's homes burn wood.