Davidson mayor pledges support for family and community after tragic fire

A small memorial popped up Tuesday outside the home in Davidson where five people died in a fire Sunday.

Three stuffed toys were left at the side of the house where three children and two seniors died. People drove slowly past the scene Tuesday, surveying the fire-ravaged house.

Elaine Ebenal — the mayor of the town halfway between Regina and Saskatoon — said town officials are working on getting mental health supports for the first responders and members of the community in the wake of the tragic fire.

“Our first responders were given some counselling last night, because that’s a real difficult situation for them,” Ebenal said Tuesday.

“The (fire) chief was here this morning and will probably be offering some more of that and some community members have expressed concern and a need for that. We’re looking to see if we can talk to somebody in mental health who knows what to do for the community.”

Because of the tragedy, the town has cancelled a Telemiracle fundraiser that was supposed to go ahead on the weekend.

“In light of the recent tragedy in town, the Davidson Kinsmen have decided to cancel our upcoming fish races Telemiracle fundraiser,” Gerrid Gust said in a Facebook post shared to the town’s Facebook page. “Our thoughts are with the … family and all involved.

“Words cannot express how deeply sorrowful we are. If anyone needs counseling please reach out.”

Ebenal said the town won’t be releasing the names, and neither will the RCMP.

The Mounties told 650 CKOM that because the deaths are considered non-suspicious, they won’t be releasing the names because of The Privacy Act.

On Monday, the RCMP and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said the fire had been deemed non-suspicious by investigators.

The Mounties said first responders raced to the house on Ottawa Street after getting the call around noon Sunday. Officers and fire crews pulled an 80-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman from the burning structure, but the two were pronounced dead in hospital.

Once the fire was extinguished, crews discovered the remains of three children inside the house. The ages of the children have not been released.

Ebenal said the town’s volunteer fire department has all the proper tools to deal with major blazes like this.

“We have a brand new fire truck (and) all the equipment we need,” she said. “We respond to all of the stuff on the highway. We have the best-money-can-buy extraction tools. We have 20 some firemen and all are trained. They’re extremely well-trained. Fire departments around (the area) come and join on their training so they can take that back.”

She added the firefighters did all they could Sunday.

“It was amazing. They were there and stayed overnight to keep the site secure so they could finish the investigation,” she said.

“Like I say, the guys are so well-trained and once a week are at the hall doing different kinds of training and practicing,” Ebenal added. “There won’t be any question whether that was a good response.”

For now, Ebenal said the community is looking at ways to help the impacted family once they give their permission. The mayor noted it’s too early to say what that response could look like.

“We’re looking into that kind of stuff – just to make sure the family knows that we’re thinking about them and that we’ll do whatever we can to help,” she said.