‘The dream has collapsed’: Three people dead after house fire in Lac Ste. Anne County


Investigators have determined that the fire had a human cause, but was not a result of Arson

Article content

Wallace Wemp is grieving the loss of his mother, fiancé and family friend after a house fire claimed their lives in Lac Ste. Anne County home over the weekend.

Article content

At approximately 12:30 am on Sunday, a fire was reported at a residence on Darbyson Estates, about 97 km northwest of Edmonton, where three victims were found dead after the fire had been extinguished, RCMP said Monday.

Friends and family have identified the victims to Postmedia. Wallace, the property owner, said he lost his 82-year-old mother Barbara Wemp, 46-year-old partner Rochelle Aginas, and 87-year-old friend Douglas Patterson in the fire.

At the burnt remains of the home on Monday, Wallace said he bought the property from Patterson in June, and lived in the three-bedroom residence with his mother and partner.

The couple had been together for 25 years, recently got engaged, and just started a heavy equipment business together, Wallace added, noting that they also had a pit bull that died in the fire.

Article content

“The dream has collapsed,” he said. “There’s nothing left of this place.”

Patterson, the former owner, also had a room in the house while waiting for an opening at a nearby assisted-living facility, Wallace added.

Investigators have determined that the fire had a human cause, but do not believe it was intentionally set, RCMP said.

County Fire Chief Randy Schroeder said a total of 14 firefighters from three stations responded to the scene, where crews found a “fully-involved” structure fire, “which means that they couldn’t make an aggressive interior attack due to fire conditions.”

Wallace said he was offloading heavy equipment in a back corner of the property when someone in the area alerted him to the fire. The blaze was bright enough to light up a neighbour’s yard, he added, and allowed him no way to access the home through the front door or windows.

Lac Ste. Anne County Reeve Joe Blakeman said residents are concerned about the loss in their community and many have been looking for ways to lend their support.

“When we find out how we can, we will,” Blakeman said, “We’ll come together and we’ll mourn together.”

RCMP said the bodies have been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Edmonton for autopsies at a later date, and police continue to investigate the fire.

[email protected]

@hamdiissawi



Leave a Comment