Emily Morin and Mark Mitchell were two of three people killed in the Victoria fire. 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 Cordasco