RCMP didn’t check site of fatal house fire until relatives found remains: Pinaymootang resident

A tragic incident has shaken the Pinaymootang First Nation community, located just off Highway 6 about 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg. On February 7, emergency crews responded to a devastating fire that destroyed a residence in the area. The RCMP have since classified the fire as suspicious, but what is even more concerning is the alleged mishandling of the situation by the authorities.

Clifford Anderson, a resident of Pinaymootang First Nation, has come forward with disturbing claims regarding the RCMP’s response to the fire. Anderson stated that despite his family’s concerns that a loved one may have been inside the home during the fire, the police did not conduct a thorough search of the site. In fact, Anderson mentioned that when his family informed an RCMP officer on the scene about their suspicions, the officer dismissed their concerns, stating that they had already checked the premises and found no one inside.

The individual in question was a young adult man who was living in the home at the time of the fire. When Anderson’s family attempted to contact him on his cell phone with no success, they feared the worst. Despite their pleas to the RCMP officer, their worries were not taken seriously.

Anderson recounted how he and his brother took matters into their own hands by searching through the rubble themselves. It was during this search that they made a grim discovery – human remains. They immediately contacted the RCMP, who confirmed that the bones belonged to a person. Anderson expressed his disbelief at the lack of proper investigation by the authorities and emphasized the importance of their own intervention in uncovering the truth.

In response to these allegations, RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre explained that due to the intensity of the fire, a thorough search could not be conducted until it was safe to do so. He clarified that the local fire department and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are responsible for such searches, not the RCMP. Manaigre stated that a preliminary search was conducted by the fire department on Saturday, but no human remains were found. It was only on Sunday that partial remains were discovered by local officials, including the chief of the community.

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), which represents 32 Manitoba First Nations, including Pinaymootang, has expressed deep concerns about the handling of these incidents by the RCMP. In a statement released on Saturday, SCO called for improved policing and public safety measures in the community. They emphasized the need for increased police presence and safety patrol options, as well as the training of more First Nation safety officers to work alongside local authorities.

The tragic events in Pinaymootang have sparked calls for action and justice from the community and organizations like SCO. As investigations into these deaths continue, the hope is that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Pinaymootang Chief Kurvis Anderson has urged all levels of government to collaborate with the community to address these pressing issues and ensure the safety and well-being of its members during this challenging time.