Fire claims the life of woman near New Denver
By Kyra Hoggan
A woman has died in a house fire in the New Denver area, according to RCMP Sgt. Darryl Little.
“The RCMP are able to confirm that the remains of a woman were discovered in the house fire on Purdy Road, Hills, on July 13,” Little said. “The RCMP, BC Coroners Service and BC Fire Commissioners Office conducted a thorough scene examination on July 14 in an attempt to determine the cause of the blaze and identify the remains found within.”
He said there is reason to believe the woman who perished in the blaze was the 44-year-olf owner of the home.
“There is evidence to suggest the woman may have re-entered the residence to retrieve personal belongings and was overcome by either smoke or flames,” he said. “The house itself was totally destroyed in the fire.”
He said it appears the fire was started accidentally.
“At this point there is no evidence of foul play being involved,” he said. “It appears that the fire may have been caused from a wood burning cook stove being used at the time.
“A positive identification has not yet been made, with the BC Coroners Service continuing their investigation.”
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On July 13, just after midnight the Slocan Lake RCMP received a call of a residential structure fire in the Hills, B.C. area, according to RCMP Sgt. Darryl Little.
“Officers arrived on Purdy Road to find a house fully engulfed in flames and the homeowner, a 44-year-old woman, unaccounted for,” said Little. “It is believed that the woman may have gone back into the residence to retrieve some person items and may have been trapped inside, but police cannot confirm this at this time.”
Little said local residents, with the assistance of members from Hills Volunteer Fire Department, managed to extinguish the blaze before it could spread to the nearby forest.
“The investigation is still in its very early stages so the cause of the blaze is undetermined at this time,” he said. “The investigation will be conducted by the Kootenay Boundary Regional RCMP Detachment with the assistance of the Fire Commissioners office who will be providing an investigator on Tuesday.
“The RCMP and Fire Investigators will be examining the scene in an attempt to determine the origin of the fire, however, at this time there is nothing to indicate foul play.”
Little said anyone who may have information regarding this matter is urged to contact the RCMP.
Updates will be provided as they become available.
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