Mishkeegogamang fire kills four

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) have confirmed that four people have died in a residential fire in Mishkeegogamang First Nation.
The fire occurred at about 3 a.m. on Feb. 13.
The incident is now under investigation as part of a joint operation between NAPS North West Region Crime Unit, the Ontario Provincial Police Forensic Identification Services, and the Ontario Fire Marshal Emergency Management Fire Investigation Services.
The post-mortem examinations are to be conducted in Toronto, Ontario at the Provincial Pathology Unit.
Mishkeegogamang Chief Connie Gray-McKay said that the community is “totally shattered.”
“Over the years, we had many tragic fires,” she said. “So many fires that have never been addressed, in terms of processing and in terms of healing from those.”
Gray-McKay would like to see an inquiry into the house fire, but said that is it too early to discuss it now.
“I am going to be asking for it later on when I speak to the family,” Gray-McKay said.
“Essentially, they’re the ones who are going to be able to support an inquiry and we will have to advocate for them.”
Gray-McKay is expecting a lot of people to arrive in Mishkeegogamang to attend the funeral, and the community is open to accept any donations from those seeking to help.
Food items and bedding are the top needs right now in the community. Gray-McKay can be contacted at conniegraymckay@knet.ca by anyone who wishes to donate and support the community. Donations can be delivered to the Community Center, and any financial donations can be made payable directly to the First Nation itself.
NAPS stated that investigation is still ongoing and further updates will be released.