VICTORIA, British Columbia, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- A fire official in Port Hardy, British Columbia, said a deadly blaze in the Canadian community may have been caused by something left on a stove.
Port Hardy Fire Chief Barry Evans said the cause of the New Year's Day apartment fire that killed three young people had not been confirmed but suspected it was stove-related, the Victoria Times-Columnist reported Saturday.
Killed in Friday's fire were Peter Charlie, his sister Patricia and Gilbert Walkus Jr. All three victims were in their 20s.
Walkus's sister Courtney escaped by exiting the apartment via a sliding balcony door.
Building manager Eddy Lagrosse said Charlie and Courtney Walkus lived in apartment together with their four children, all between the ages of 1 and 6. The children were staying in another apartment when the fire occurred, the Times-Columnist reported.
Courtney Walkus said she and the three victims were sleeping at the time of the fire, adding she was unable to wake up or move her friends before fleeing the apartment.
