Officials detail rescue attempt for Sudbury victim who died in fire on remote island

Remote island fire on an island on Little Gabodin Lake in the Sudbury District has killed one person and seriously injured another.

Police and emergency responders have detailed the efforts to rescue a Sudbury victim who died in a fatal cabin fire on a remote island May 17.

In an interview May 20, the Ontario Provincial Police said the call for help came through 911. One person died and another was seriously injured after a structure fire early in the morning on an island at a remote location in the Sudbury District.

It happened on Little Gabodin Lake, which is only accessible by portage from Lake Panache, south of Sudbury and north of the Killarney area.

The Ontario Provincial Police say a 26-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene and a 27-year-old victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Both are from Sudbury.

The OPP said due to the remote location, specialized resources were deployed to access the scene and assist with extrication efforts including the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

“Due to the remote location, the OPP requested the assistance of JRCC, who used their fixed wing aircraft to get to the location a lot quicker than the OPP resources,” said OPP spokesperson Const. Rob Lewis.

“When they attended the scene, they were able to assist the injured parties to bring them to the hospital. Afterwards, the OPP helicopter arrived along with the Emergency Response Team.”

The Office of the Fire Marshal said it has completed its on-scene investigation on the remote island into the cause, origin, and circumstances of the fatal fire, but no determination has been made in the ongoing investigation.

In an emailed statement, Capt. Raelyn Luchsinger, a spokesperson with Canadian NORAD Region Headquarters, said OPP asked for their help May 17 to extract injured persons in a remote area.

The injured people were involved in “a cabin fire on a remote island located on Little Gabodin Lake, south of Sudbury,” Luchsinger said.

“A CC-130J Hercules and a CH-146 Griffon helicopter, both from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, located at 8 Wing Trenton, were tasked to assist.”

The CC-130J Hercules was the first to arrive on the scene and two search and rescue (SAR) technicians were dispatched to provide medical assistance.

The technicians also supplied supply flare illumination for the incoming helicopter.

“Upon arrival, the Griffon … evacuated the injured individual to Sudbury hospital. The helicopter then returned to the island to extract the remaining individuals, along with the SAR technician who had remained with them.”

The OPP said the investigation remains ongoing by the Nipissing West OPP crime unit, with help from the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal.

Further updates will be provided as information becomes available, police added.