Small children perish in Mackenzie fire

Two small children are dead from a house fire in Mackenzie.

The twin 18-month-old boy and girl, did not survive the flames that engulfed a home on Kerry Crescent only a few blocks from the town's downtown.

"It's heartbreaking," said North District RCMP Const. Lesley Smith, fighting her own emotion.

There was just nothing firefighters could do, she said, although the town's fire department was on the scene in moments once the call came in.

A three-year-old and two adults were saved from the fire. The twin toddlers were in a bedroom on the second floor and could not be reached.

"They [firefighters] were met with aggressive flames at the front and back, and they had to pull back," said Smith. "The house was fully engulfed; any attempt to access the house was met with flames throughout."

The call came in at 7:33 a.m. Tuesday morning. Reports from the scene were that the parents, Mounties, firefighters and a civilian all attempted to get to the kids but rescue was impossible.

"This is a tragic loss not only for the family but also the entire community," says Sgt. Syd Lecky, commander of the Mackenzie RCMP detachment. "Victim Services and a Critical Incident Team are assisting the family, first responders and the community with this devastating situation."

"This was a well-established, close-knit neighbourhood," said Smith. "We had a number of neighbours trying to assist the family at the scene, and it makes it more tragic because the whole community is grieving."

The cause was not readily apparent and that is still under investigation.