The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and surrounding communities are mourning the tragic loss of a 10-year-old child, who lost their life in an overnight fire Monday.
Crisis supports are being offered to the community as they deal with the loss and MCFN held a sacred fire last night.
Local fire crews responded to the blaze around 1:53 a.m. early Monday morning at a home on Mississauga Road (First Line Road) on the border with the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve territory.
Firefighters were met with a camping trailer fully engulfed in fire, according to a press release from Haldimand OPP.
Six Nations Fire, Six Nations Paramedics, and Haldimand Country Fire put out the blaze and subsequently found a 10-year-old on the scene, deceased.
Six other people, including two adults and four other children, were able to escape.
The Haldimand County OPP Crime Unit, the Office of the Fire Marshall, along with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, are continuing to investigate this incident.
Victim Services of Haldimand-Norfolk-New Credit were engaged and are assisting family members and the victims involved in this incident.
Six Nations crisis teams are also offering support at this time.
Chief Stacey Laforme posted a message of condolence on his Facebook page.
“As we say baamaapii to a young one, offer our prayers to the family and remember all those that have gone before, it can be a very challenging time and it is important to know we are not alone.
A fire has been started in front of the council house (on the MCFN reserve) if you wish to stop by to offer your thoughts and prayers.”
Six Nations Elected Chief Mark Hill also offered his condolences.
“Our community grieves with you through this sad and difficult time,” said Chief Hill. “Six Nations of the Grand River is here to support the Mississaugas of the Credit in any way we can.”
Six Nations Fire had responded immediately and attacked the fire but jurisdiction for the subsequent investigation was immediately handed over to Haldimand Fire and OPP.
MCFN said in a statement they are asking for the community’s and family’s privacy at this time.
