K'ATLODEECHE/HAY RIVER RESERVE
NWT's chief coroner has confirmed the identity of the person who died in a house on the Hay River Reserve on February 15.
Fire can be seen rising from the roof of a house on the Hay River Reserve on Feb. 15. The fire killed one person and seriously injured another. - NNSL file photo |
Cathy Menard said Feb. 24 that Rodney Chambaud, 27, who lived at the house, is the sole fatality.
As first reported in the Feb. 20 edition of News/North, one person died in the fire, while a woman was seriously injured, according to information from the Hay River Fire Department.
According to an RCMP news release, officers arrived on the scene of the fire at about 5:30 p.m. to find a house engulfed in flames.
The injured female was removed from the house on Wolf Drive by members of the Hay River Fire Department and transported to the Hay River Regional Health Centre for medical attention.
"Hay River Fire Department was able to contain the fire, and there was no damage to neighbouring properties," stated the news release from Marie York-Condon, a civilian employee with the RCMP's G-Division in Yellowknife. "Once the fire had been extinguished, Hay River Fire Department was able to enter the building and confirm one person was deceased inside."
The RCMP secured the scene and held it pending the arrival of investigators, which occurred on the evening of Feb. 16.
York-Condon stated weather conditions - ice and fog - in Yellowknife and Hay River contributed to a delay in the arrival of the investigators.
On Feb. 24, RCMP stated they had completed the investigation into the fire.
"There was no criminal element identified and the Hay River RCMP is assisting with a coroner's investigation as the file is now with the NWT Coroner Services," stated a news release.
Fire Chief Ross Potter of the Hay River Fire Department said his organization is also involved in investigating the fire.
Speaking on Feb. 16, Potter said he had nothing to report on the cause of the fire.
"We're still working on all that," he said.
Potter noted the walls of the house were still standing after the fire.
"But the roof is burnt off of it in places," he said, adding the windows of the house are also broken.
All available members of the Hay River Fire Department responded to the fire.
The fatal fire shocked and saddened the Hay River Reserve and beyond.
On the reserve, crisis counseling was made available to people to help them deal with the tragedy.
Funds were also being raised and donated items collected to help the affected families.
Hay River Mayor Brad Mapes offered his condolences to K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) in a Feb. 16 posting on Facebook.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the KFN community for their loss of life from the house fire," wrote Mapes.
"Our community of Hay River will mourn together and help move forward."
The mayor also expressed thanks to the RCMP and Potter and his department's firefighters for their work in responding to and battling the fire.
In the legislative assembly on Feb. 16, Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli, who represents the Hay River Reserve, spoke of his "deep sorrow" in hearing of the tragic fire.
"A house fire claimed the life (of a person) and another is in critical condition and was medevaced to Edmonton," said Nadli, adding he felt sad and sorry for the loss of life and the family that was affected by the tragedy.
"On behalf of my colleagues of this House, I express my condolences for the family, relatives, and communities of the K'atlodeeche Reserve," said the MLA, noting he had spoken to Chief Roy Fabian of K'atlodeeche First Nation.
"He asked that people remember them in their prayers for the family and community to get through this great tragedy."
Attempts by News/North to contact Fabian for comment were unsuccessful.
- with files from John McFadden
