Two people, both male, were killed early Tuesday in a fire at the College Heights Trailer Park.
Authorities found one victim soon after the flames were extinguished, and located the second victim late in the afternoon after a difficult search through the mobile home debris.
"The fire reengaged two or three times [during the search] which the fire department had to work on," said Prince George RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Craig Douglass.
Prince George Fire Rescue Service (PGFRS) was called to the blaze at about 4 a.m., arriving at a trailer park on O'Grady Road to find a mobile home fully engulfed in smoke and flames. Sixteen firefighters from three halls went to work at dousing the home and protecting the adjacent properties.
"Bystanders reported that two occupants may have been in the dwelling," said PGFRS assistant chief Darrell Kloschinsky, so they were aware almost from the start that there might be victims inside.
"The fire had compromised the floor joists and roof supports in the trailer of origin, which limited the crews to exterior operations until the bulk of the fire was extinguished and visibility improved."
To the north of the burning trailer was another mobile home within a short distance. It was also in danger of igniting, and its siding sustained significant damage but did not catch on fire. The siding, as well as a "For Sale" sign in the window, were destroyed, however.
To the south of the main fire was an adjacent lot. There were no nearby structures to the front or back, but a pickup truck in the driveway, a blue GMC crew cab, was also severely burned.
"Fire crews located one fire victim inside the trailer," said Kloschinsky.
The rubble of the entire premise had to be searched after that by a fire investigation specialist of the RCMP, plus a coroner, to locate the second deceased person.
Autopsies have been scheduled for later this week.
"Fire investigators are still on scene but it is confirmed to be not suspicious in nature," said Douglass.
Neighbours confirmed for The Citizen that the mobile home was inhabited by heavy smokers and the trailer was generally in an unkempt state.
