SANDY LAKE — A house fire in Sandy Lake First Nation that killed a child was not criminal in nature, Nishnawbe Aski police have said.
“This is now a private matter between the investigative team and the impacted community members,” NAPS said in a media release issued Wednesday afternoon. According to the Indigenous-led force, the investigation involved the NAPS crime unit, the OPP’s forensic identification unit, the Office of Ontario’s Chief Coroner and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.
That investigation is now complete, police said.
Police were called on the afternoon of May 22 with reports a home was on fire in the remote First Nation, located nearly 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. When they arrived, community firefighters were already battling the flames.
One boy died in the fire. Nine other people escaped and were treated for smoke inhalation at the community’s nursing station, police said.
