’He’s fighting’: Toddler burned in fire faces ‘long journey’ By: Chris Kitching Posted: 7:00 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023

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This article was published 15/02/2023 (934 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A two-year-old boy is on life-support after suffering burns to much of his body in a blaze raising concerns about a lack of firefighting resources in some northern Manitoba communities.

Ronnie Wavey and four of his siblings were rescued by a 17-year-old girl while flames engulfed an apartment complex in Tataskweyak Cree Nation early Saturday afternoon.

“As far as we were told, 90 per cent of his body has been burnt,” said Amanda Ellsworth, who spoke to the Free Press on behalf of Ronnie’s father and his family. “I think everyone is still in shock. It’s devastating.”

Ronnie, who suffered third-degree burns, was in critical but stable condition at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton on Wednesday.

The toddler underwent surgery to remove unaffected skin that will be used to grow skin for grafting in the future, said Ellsworth.

He faces a months-long stay in hospital and multiple surgeries while undergoing treatment and efforts to aid his recovery, according to his family.

It’s not yet known if Ronnie, who suffered smoke inhalation, sustained damage to his brain or other organs, said Ellsworth.

“He’s fighting. We don’t know the extent of it right now,” she said. “All we’ve been told so far is it’s going to be a long journey. They’re focusing on getting the skin grafts started now.”

Hospital staff are using machines to help his body with functions such as breathing.

Family members become emotional when they think about the boy he was before the fire and the future he faces, said Ellsworth.

“He’s fighting. We don’t know the extent of it right now… All we’ve been told so far is it’s going to be a long journey. They’re focusing on getting the skin grafts started now.”–Amanda Ellsworth

Seeing him in a hospital bed and hooked up to machines has been hard on them.

“It’s hard to see,” said Ellsworth. “He was just your typical rambunctious two-year-old who has great energy and loves his siblings.”

Ronnie’s family echoed Indigenous leaders’ concerns and calls for better firefighting resources in Tataskweyak Cree Nation, about 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and other remote First Nation communities.

The outcome may have been different if Tataskweyak’s lone fire truck wasn’t out of service or if it had adequate resources, according to the family.

Firefighters from neighbouring communities responded to the blaze.

RCMP said a 17-year-old girl risked her life to rescue the children from an upstairs apartment suite that was on fire.

The children and their mother live in the apartment, according to a family member.

The teen and Ronnie, the last of the children to be saved, lost consciousness due to smoke inhalation and were rescued by firefighters, according to police.

“She is an absolute hero,” said Ellsworth, who wasn’t aware of the circumstances nor the cause of the fire. “She is in our hearts and minds. We are so thankful she was as courageous as she was to rescue the five children.”

Wishing her a speedy recovery, Ronnie’s family is looking forward to one day meeting the teen to thank her in person.

She was in critical but stable condition after she and Ronnie were airlifted to Winnipeg following the fire, which displaced around 50 residents.

Ronnie was later airlifted to Edmonton.

“She is an absolute hero… She is in our hearts and minds. We are so thankful she was as courageous as she was to rescue the five children.”–Amanda Ellsworth

Ellsworth said the other four children — a boy who is about a year old, a twin boy and girl who are four years old and a 14-year-old girl — were fine and are with family in Manitoba.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to RCMP.

With a number of fundraisers or efforts underway to help the complex’s residents, Ronnie’s family is grateful for the support of family, friends, Tataskweyak’s council, the wider public and staff at Stollery Children’s Hospital.

“It’s overwhelming,” said Ellsworth. “Everyone has been absolutely wonderful.”

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching

Chris Kitching
Reporter

Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.

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