Couple burned escaping house fire in Muskrat Dam First Nation

Tim Brody - Editor

A husband and wife were transported to Winnipeg’s burn unit after escaping from an early morning house fire on June 11 in Muskrat Dam First Nation.
The couple, who suffered first and second degree burns to their hands, arms, chests and backs, were the lone occupants of the two-story dwelling.
According to a news release from Muskrat Dam First Nation, the home was in close proximity to other homes, with at least two of those nearby homes sustaining some smoke damage.
“Further complications to the response included a community-wide power outage and bad weather keeping an air ambulance from landing and transporting the patients to hospital. Internet communications were also down in the Nursing Station making it difficult for doctors to assess the patients via telemedicine.
“There is no information regarding the cause of the fire at this time, but smoke alarms were installed in the home, though it is unclear as to their functionality and if they alerted the occupants to the situation or not,” the First Nation shared.
Roy Fiddler, Pandemic Lead Coordinator for the community and spokesperson for the family shared, “the patients are currently stable and, after a slight delay due to weather, were evacuated via air transport to Winnipeg, the closest access the community has to a burn unit. We are also communicating with family both on and off reserve and have arranged to have mental health workers support family and other community members affected by the fire.”
The community is part of the Independent First Nation Alliance. The Tribal Council experienced a fire in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug on May 2, 2019, which claimed the lives of Geraldine Chapman and four of her children.