YELLOW GRASS FIRE INVESTIGATION OUTCOME

Released on November 18, 2002

Provincial Fire Commissioner Rick McCullough today reported findings of an

investigation into the house fire at Yellow Grass that claimed two lives on

November 10th, 2002.



The investigation showed that the fire originated in the kitchen of the

home and was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. A working

smoke alarm that was properly installed in the home did not have a battery.



The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Fire Commissioner, in

co-operation with the RCMP and Yellow Grass Volunteer Fire Department. The

occupants of the house appear to have been overcome by smoke from a slow,

smoldering fire.



McCullough commended the Yellow Grass Fire Department for its efforts in

properly entering the house and quickly and safely extinguishing the

smoldering fire once the alarm was raised.



In 2001, Saskatchewan recorded six fire-related deaths and $57 million in

direct property losses from fires. Noting that the major cause of death in

residential fires is misuse of smoking materials, the Fire Commissioner

reminded the public to help avoid similar tragedies by installing and

checking batteries on smoke alarms.



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For more information, contact:



Rick McCullough

Office of the Fire Commissioner

Corrections and Public Safety

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4516