A housefire at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy. An attempted rescue injured an older woman from the community.
On March 25, at approximately 6:50 p.m., Virden RCMP received a report of a structure fire in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Police were advised while en route to the scene that a child was believed to still be in the residence.
Sioux Valley Fire Department, Sioux Valley First Nation Safety Officers, and community members were working on extinguishing the fire and locating the child.
An 11-year-old male was pulled from the home and rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Seven people were inside the house when it started on fire, four adults and three children. Only the 11-year-old boy sustained physical injuries.
A 65-year-old female community member who was assisting in trying to get the boy out of the home sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital where she remains.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
