House fire claims three in Wunnumin

Crisis teams have been dispatched to Wunnumin Lake after a house fire claimed the lives of two girls and a young woman on May 8.
“A 21-year-old woman (aunt of the two deceased), six-year-old girl and one-year-old girl have perished in the house fire,” said Wunnumin Chief Rod Winnepetonga. “The community and the leadership are distraught and shocked over the sudden tragedy that took these young lives.”
Although a Wunnumin Lake council member attempted to rescue the two girls and young woman from the three-bedroom home, he was overcome by smoke inhalation and had to be flown to Thunder Bay by air ambulance.
“He was discharged from the hospital this morning,” Winnepetonga said on May 9. “There is a local volunteer firefighter team that responded to the fire, but it was already out of control. The cause of the fire is unknown however it is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal.”
The fire was discovered at about 9 a.m. when smoke was seen coming out of the house.
Grand Chief Harvey Yesno expressed condolences to the families and community of Wunnumin Lake First Nation following the fire.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends who have lost their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the community at this difficult time as they grieve this terrible loss,” Yesno said. “We do not yet know the circumstances around this devastating fire but this tragedy shows how ill-equipped many of our communities are to deal with these emergencies and how vulnerable our families and their children are.”
Regional Chief Stan Beardy also expressed condolences to the families that lost loved ones and the community of Wunnumin Lake.
“Mere words cannot adequately express the shock and grief of this terrible tragedy,” Beardy said. “We wish to send our prayers to the family and friends who lost their loved ones and sincerely hope that the Creator provides much needed spiritual strength in this time of such great loss.”
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of the immediate family.