(PIKANGIKUM, ON) – On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at approximately 11:44 pm, officers from the Pikangikum Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the Pikangikum Fire Department responded to a residential fire located on Dunsford Road on Pikangikum First Nation.
On Friday, April 1, nine human remains were located within the residence. The remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Coroner and Forensic Pathology Services in Toronto.
On Sunday, April 3, post mortems were conducted on all of the victims. The cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation.
The following victims have been identified as:
- Dean Strang, 51 years, Dunsford Road
- Annette Strang, 49 years, Dunsford Road
- Gilbert Strang, 31 years, Dunsford Road
- Sylvia Peters, 41 years, Suggashie Road
- Dietrich Peters, 35 years, Joe’s Avenue
- Faith Strang, 24 years, Joe’s Avenue
- Ireland Peters, 4 years, Joe’s Avenue
- Aubree Strang, 2 years, Joe’s Avenue
- Amber Strang, 5 months, Joe’s Avenue
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and remains undetermined.
Foul play is not suspected.