Tuk elder Bessie Raddi dies in fire
Fire marshal investigating fatal blaze at home
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, May 5, 2014
TUKTOYAKTUK
A 71-year-old elder Bessie Raddi died after a fire ravaged her home in Tuktoyaktuk April 25.
Fire Marshal Chucker Dewar said there were two people in the home at the time of the fire.
"They both sustained injuries," he said. "One of the injuries resulted in a fatality."
The local fire department was called out at 8:15 p.m. and were able to get both occupants out of the home with the help of community members, RCMP stated in a press release.
Raddi later succumbed to her injuries, said Cathy Menard, the Northwest Territories' chief coroner.
The fire marshal's office is investigating the fire, said Dewar.
"We have attended the community of Tuktoyaktuk to investigate it," he said.
"We're working with the RCMP, community officials and others, compiling all the facts."
Police have concluded the fire was not suspicious and closed their investigation.
"Typically, any fire is deemed criminal until proved otherwise," said Dewar, adding RCMP lead all criminal investigations.
Since no evidence of criminal activity was found, investigators will now
focus on determining what it was that caused the fire.
"We work very closely with the RCMP and then if it's a criminal matter, then of course they would continue to be engaged and be the lead," he said.
"If there is no criminal activity involved, then we would conduct our investigation and determine the facts and try to ascertain what occurred."
Dewar said more information will be available once the investigation into the blaze has concluded.
"We will release our findings at a later date," he said.
Menard said Raddi's body was sent to Edmonton for a post-mortem examination as part of the investigation into the fire.
