A house-trailer fire that killed three boys and their 57-year-old uncle in Pukatawagan March 10 was caused by the careless disposal of a smoking item, according to officials.
A spokesman for the Office of the Fire Commissioner could not clarify who tossed the item or whether it was a lit cigarette.
Letrel Bighetty-Castel, 5, and his two cousins, Robert Castel-Lapensee Jr., 4, and Troi Castel-Lapensee, 3, died in the blaze that began about 2:30 p.m. Autopsies concluded they died of smoke inhalation.
Residents, workers and firefighters rushed to the scene and rescued Simon Nicholas, the 57-year-old uncle of the boys, who was babysitting at the time. He was transported 825 kilometres south to Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre and later died.
A park will be built in honour of the boys' memory, their grandmother, Mathias Colomb First Nation Chief Shirley Castel, said earlier.
The trailer where the boys died has been torn down, Castel said.
The planned site for the park is on a rolling hill near the Churchill River, and will be used by the community's 600 children, she said.
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