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Updated: Cause of fatal fire, victim's name released

RMCP-fatal-fire-004

"Smoking materials" have been cited as the cause of a fatal weekend apartment fire that claimed the life of 55-year-old Karen Petersen.

"The cause is suspected to be smoking material too close to combustibles," NWT fire marshal Chucker Dewar told Yellowknifer Friday.

"Smoking materials," Dewar said, range from cigarettes to matches and lighters.

Petersen was pronounced dead in hospital after being found in her Aurora Suites apartment unit in the early hours of Saturday April 7. Fire crews, and later RCMP, responded to a fire alarm at the 46 Street apartment complex around 1 a.m.

Another occupant was treated for smoke inhalation at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

On Friday, the NWT Coroner Office named Petersen as the deceased individual.

The coroner's office investigated the deadly blaze in conjunction with the NWT Office of the Fire Marshal and Yellowknife RCMP.

On Thursday, the Mounties said the fire is not deemed suspicious.

“A post-mortem autopsy has been completed. At this point, there is nothing to indicate suspicious activity in the event,” a news release from RCMP stated.

Dewar, who couldn't speak on specifics – including what type of combustible was set ablaze – said the Office of the Fire Marshal has completed its investigation, adding Aurora Suites has been over to the property owner.

"The Office of the Fire Marshal  is reminding residents to ensure smoking materials are secured in a safe location when not in use. And that materials are kept at a safe distance from combustibles when in use so they don’t ignite them," Dewar said.