What's left of a candle light vigil sits in front of the charred frame of a home in Oxford House.
It's the site of a Tuesday morning fire that claimed three members of the northern Manitoba First Nation.
"When I got there, the flames where through the roof," said Oxford House Chief Timothy Muskego.
He believes two of the victims are father and son. He suspects the third to be a missing woman in the community.
Community members identified the victims as James Crane, Jamie Crane and Jastidee Sinclair.
The identities still need to be confirmed by an autopsy.
"I just feel so sad and so devastated for the families, because they’re going through a lot," said Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson. "They’ve lost family members in the last few weeks already and now this, to lose them in such a tragic way. It’s so heartbreaking."
The three deaths from the fire make five total over the last few days in this community. The other two were respected elders who would've had a leadership role in the grieving process, said Wilson.
Wilson, who calls the community home, flew in from Winnipeg on Wednesday to mourn the loss along with her friends and neighbour.
The autopsys, happening in Winnipeg, are expected to take a few days. In the meantime this remote/tight-knit community is rallying together to support the grieving families and start preparations for traditional wakes and funeral.
