A teenage boy passed away several days after a fire in his north Edmonton family home also claimed the life of his younger sister.
Ethan Peters, 16, and his younger sister Christina Mawusi, 11, suffered smoke inhalation after a cooking oil fire broke out in the kitchen of their home near 93 Street and 178 Avenue in the Lago Lindo neighbourhood.
READ MORE: 2 teens in serious condition after cooking oil fire in north Edmonton home
The fire happened around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. Both siblings were in their rooms at the time, and firefighters had to rescue them through their bedroom windows.
The siblings were rushed to hospital in serious condition. Mawusi died the following day, and Peters passed away four days later, on Friday, June 9.
READ MORE: Girl dies from injuries sustained in Edmonton kitchen fire
“He fought so hard since the fire but his injuries were too much to overcome,” his aunt Edith Vanderpuye wrote on a GoFundMe page intended to help out the children’s mother, Ellen Mawusi, with the funeral and associated costs.
“As many of you know, Ethan is no stranger to an uphill battle. He was born at 1 lb. 4 oz. To see how much he’s grown, is to have already witnessed a miracle,” Vanderpuye added.
She said the teen was a student at Killarney Junior High School. “He had a gentle spirit, a beautiful smile, and a fervent love of cars.”
“To see how communities, friends, and family have come together for these two kids is a strengthening experience.”
A man in the home was also taken to hospital with injuries to his airway and carbon monoxide poisoning, and a woman escaped without any injuries.
A neighbour said a couple, their daughter and two grandchildren were inside the house when the fire broke out.
READ MORE: Girl who died following Edmonton house fire was excited to start junior high
Officials said the fire was caused by over-heated cooking oil left unattended for a few minutes.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Chief Ken Block said crews were able to contain the fire to the kitchen and had it under control within 20 minutes. However, he said there was a lot of smoke.
“Within a couple of minutes, the atmosphere will be untenable and that means the oxygen levels are depleted and smoke displaces oxygen and it won’t support life,” he said.
READ MORE: What you should know about carbon monoxide poisoning
Edmonton Fire Rescue said cooking fires are one of the leading causes of home fires and injuries. It said in 2016, there were 69 over-heated cooking oil fires, which resulted in 42 civilian and seven firefighter injuries, and six civilian deaths.
The kitchen and main floor sustained heavy damage. The fire caused about $500,000 in damage to the house and contents.
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