Middlesex County OPP officers are investigating after a woman died in an overnight fire in the administration building on Jubilee Road in Munsee-Delaware First Nation.
Police and fire crews responded to the blaze at about 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
OPP Const. Laurie Houghton says “During the investigation a female was found in the building during the fire. She was removed and transported to hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The identity of the female is being withheld pending a post-mortem examination.”
The post mortem is scheduled to take place on Wednesday in London at which time more details are expected to be released.
Meanwhile officials are still trying to figure out why the woman was at the office and what started the fire.
The Munsee-Delaware First Nation has its own police force, but as with similar situations, they are working with other provincial agencies to try to determine what happened.
Houghton says “The Middlesex County OPP Crime Unit is investigating under the direction of the criminal investigations bureau and the Fire Marshal's Office has been dispatched to the scene as well. But the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.”
Anyone with information can contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Community hit hard
Around mid-day on Tuesday, First Nations elders gathered to hold a smudging ceremony – a purification ritual – at the administrative offices where the fire occurred.
Acting Chief Rose Snake tells CTV News the community of just over 500 people is close-knit and that a tragic death like this one impacts them all.
