New Brunswick house fire that killed family of 4 ‘not suspicious’: RCMP

New Brunswick RCMP say a fatal house fire Tuesday, in which a family of four died, was not suspicious.

READ MORE: New Brunswick community mourns loss of ‘town mascot’ after family dies in house fire

Fire crews from St. George and the surrounding area, along with N.B. Emergency Medical Services and RCMP responded to a call at 12:20 p.m. at a home on South Street. Following the fire, four people – a woman and three men – were pronounced dead.

Police identified the four as an 80-year-old woman, and three men, aged 59, 55 and 52. RCMP say the four died from smoke inhalation and the cause of the fire is not considered as suspicious.

“St. George is a small close-knit community and to lose four of our citizens in such a tragic way is difficult for all,” said Sgt. Chris Henderson in a release.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "St. George is a small close-knit community and to lose four of our citizens in such a tragic way is difficult for all," said Sgt. Chris Henderson in a release.

Neighbours told Global News the woman was Esther Boyd and she lived in the home with her three adult sons who, neighbours described, were living with intellectual disabilities.

An obituary for the family on the St. George Funeral Home website named the three sons as William (Billy), Davey and Robbie.

Residents in the community told Global News that Davey was often seen around town. Mayor Crystal Cook told Global News that he was an “honorary member” of the fire department. A message posted on the town’s Facebook said Davey had been part of the department for more than 40 years.

The obituary said Esther was a member of the St. George Baptist Church and sang in the choir for many years and “devoted her life to her family and the church.”

READ MORE: ‘The community’s grieving’: N.B. town mourns family lost in house fire

Davey was also at the town hall earlier on Tuesday for the arrival of the community’s new fire truck and Cook said he was “grinning ear to ear” before he went home. She said in an interview that she had gone out to get a cake for the celebration that afternoon when she got a call about the news from the town’s chief administrative officer.

Firefighters have put “David B. Boyd 1961-2017” on the new truck in memory of Davey.

Cook also said fire crews from the surrounding area have been providing support to give the town’s department “time to grieve.”

A memorial service will be held at St. George Baptist Church starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The obituary says donations can be made to the fire department, the church or St. Marks Anglican Church where Davey was a member.

The Fire Marshal’s office is continuing its investigation into the cause of the fire.