The sister and sister-in-law of two men found dead in a house fire in Rosthern says the two are now at peace.
“I love them both and now they’re peaceful in heaven,” Rosealee McCallum told CTV News, identifying her brother Sidney Thomas and her brother-in-law Albert Mike as the two men found dead after the fire on Friday evening.
“I’ll never forget the good memories I have of them both.”
The men, from Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation, were roommates and lifelong friends, according to McCallum.
She was at one point married to Mike’s brother and still refers to Mike as her brother-in-law. She said Mike and Thomas grew up across the street from one another.
“They were just brothers. They used to hang around together, do stuff together,” she said.
The home, on the 900 block of Third Street East, was left completely destroyed by the flames.
About 14 volunteer firefighters fought the blaze for about nine hours, and community members made and served food and hot chocolate for the emergency crews during the fight.
"It is a sad moment in our community, but (we're) also very thankful that we can deal with a fire of this magnitude and that nobody else was hurt," said town councillor Kate Kading.
The fire started in the kitchen and is not considered suspicious, according to the fire department.
Family members of Thomas and Mike believe the two men had the stove on for warmth.
Funerals for the men are expected to be held later this week.
--- CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Albert Mike as Albert Mark. We regret the error.
