Unattended stove likely behind deadly Port Hardy fire

A New Year's Day apartment fire that claimed three lives in the northern Vancouver Island community of Port Hardy appears to have started after something was left unattended on a stove, fire officials said Sunday.

The stove was left on at maximum heat, officials said.

The fire broke out just after noon on Friday in the 7300-block of Highland Drive.

Four people were inside the suite at the time. One woman managed to escape.

Those killed in the fire were identified as Gilbert Walkus, who once played hockey for the North Island Chiefs, and siblings Patricia and Peter Charlie.

All three were from Port Hardy's Tlatlasikwala First Nations reserve, and were in their early 20s.

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  Fire officials in Port Hardy, B.C., say a New Year's Day fire that claimed three lives likely started because of an unattended stove in the kitchen. Jan. 3, 2009.

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  Fire officials in Port Hardy, B.C., say a New Year's Day fire that claimed three lives likely started because of an unattended stove in the kitchen. Jan. 3, 2009.