Victoria fire victims' memorial held Sunday
CBC News
Posted: Feb 24, 2013 10:58 AM PT
Last Updated: Feb 24, 2013 1:46 PM PT
Emily Morin and Mark Mitchell were two of three people killed in the Victoria fire. (Facebook)Friends and family are gathering near Victoria Sunday to celebrate the lives of two of the victims in last weekend's fatal house fire.
Emily Morin, 20, and her partner, Mark Mitchell, 26, died at the scene and 22-year-old Georgia Klap died in hospital several hours later.
Victoria police were first on the scene at the flame-engulfed home and saved many others who had attended a party there earlier in the evening.
Const. Mike Russell said every officer on the early morning shift last Saturday has received trauma counselling.
"Our officers were running into the burning building, helping people escape. We had three of our officers treated for smoke inhalation,” Russell said.
Russell said one officer “went in three or four times to get people evacuated.”
Police then had the grim task of telling people the outcome.
“Our investigators had to interview everyone that was at the party and tell all these people that we were interviewing that their friends had passed away. It's pretty intense,” said Russell.
Sunday’s celebration of Mitchell and Morin's lives takes place at the Friendship Community Church on Central Saanich Road at 2 p.m. PT
A funeral for Georgia Klap was held Friday.
With files from the CBC's Lisa CordascoShare Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Adrian Dix to stay on as B.C. NDP leader despite election loss

- Embattled B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix says he will stay on as head of the party despite last week's surprise election defeat. more »
- B.C. teen saves dog from cougar
- A Belcarra, B.C. teenager and his beloved family dog are recovering tonight after surviving a vicious cougar attack on Tuesday night. more »
- Rain, snowfall warnings issued for B.C.'s southern Interior
- A low pressure system stuck over B.C. will bring heavy rain in the southern Interior, snow on the mountain passes, and cooler temperatures over the next two days, according to CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe. more »
- End solitary confinement, says former female inmate
- A Saskatchewan woman who was held in solitary confinement in B.C. for a total of 3½ years has issued an emotional plea to end the practice in Canada's prisons. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Harper 'not consulted' about Duffy Senate expense repayment

- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that not only did he not know about his chief of staff's "gift" to repay Senator Mike Duffy's expenses before the story broke in the media, he was not consulted and did not sign off on Nigel Wright's decision to write a personal cheque. more »
- 2 infants confirmed among dead of Oklahoma tornado
- Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of 10 children. more »
- 'You will see him again in heaven,' Sharlene Bosma tells daughter
- Sharlene Bosma told more than 1,000 people at the public memorial service for her slain husband, Tim Bosma, about the love they shared. more »
- Mayor Ford stays silent while his brother defends him
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continues to stonewall the media over allegations that he was recorded on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, but his brother Coun. Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that the story is untrue. more »
- Plumber's car explodes near Vancouver apartments
- Adrian Dix to stay on as B.C. NDP leader despite election loss
- Cloverdale Rodeo 'racist attack' investigated
- Greyhound bus caught going twice the speed limit in B.C.
- Aboriginal woman settles lawsuit over 3½ years solitary confinement
- Former B.C. MLA Harold Long killed in plane crash
- One dead as floatplane overturns in Bute Inlet
- B.C. teachers win fight over political posters in schools
- B.C. mine's temporary foreign workers case dismissed

