VANCOUVER – A man who survived a fatal house fire in Vancouver last year has testified he was unable to rescue the three victims because the smoke was too intense.
Harry Kayes told a coroner’s inquest he’d just returned home from a walk last Dec. 22 when he heard a popping sound before an explosion when the fire began.
He says the house had no working smoke detectors and he didn’t have his cellphone with him to call in the alarm.
Vancouver Fire Capt. Ray Bryant told the inquest the fire was the result of an old extension cord near a mattress and some frayed Christmas lights.
Garland McKay, Dwayne Rasmussen and Stephen Yellowquill died, likely of smoke inhalation, when the home went up in flames.
Yellowquill’s mother, Daisy Lavallie, broke down in tears during a break in the proceedings, saying her son’s death could have been prevented if city inspectors had shut down the residence, which was being used as an illegal rooming house. (CKNW,News1130)
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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