According to a report from CBC.ca, four children between the ages of 4 and 10 were killed after being trapped inside a home that erupted in flames in city of Thompson, Manitoba, Canada, Wednesday night.
Helen Joy Keeper, 10; Leon Keeper Jr., 9; Big Bear Keeper, 7; and Rowan Thomas, 4, were on the second floor of the two-story home when the fire broke out. The children’s 41-year-old mother and a 62-year-old man were in the home’s basement when they heard sounds of the fire upstairs. Both were able to make it to the first floor, but were forced out of the home by the smoke and flames.
The oldest child, 13, escaped through a window and jumped to safety, but the other four children could not get out.
At around 8:40 p.m., police were responding to an unrelated incident when they heard a woman screaming from down the street and saw a significant amount of smoke, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sargent Paul Manaigre.
On arrival of fire crews, the home was fully engulfed. They later discovered the four deceased children after bringing the fire under control and entering the structure.
The children were transported to a local hospital, where they died from their injuries. The three survivors were also transpored to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police and the office of the fire commissioner are continuing to investigate the origin of the fire.
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, expressed condolences and said their mobile crisis response team will be supporting the community.
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