Boy, 4, dies in house fire in Delta Beach

A four-year-old boy has died after an early morning house fire in Delta Beach, Man.

Landon Cyr was an inquisitive boy who liked to ask questions and "hang out with the men," his great-uncle Marty Everett said.

"He was a great little kid. He always wanted to hang with the men," Everett said.

"[He was] always curious to what we were doing, why we were doing things, for what reason. Very inquisitive and just liked hanging with the guys."

Landon's mother, Melissa Cyr, woke up choking from smoke inhalation early Tuesday morning, Everett said. The boy's father, Merle Cyr, rushed to get everyone out and was able to save his three other children — two girls age seven and one, as well as a two-week-old baby girl

"They got out and he tried to get back in … They couldn't get in," Everett said.

"We are just completely devastated."

Portage la Prairie fire crews were called to the blaze on Cherry Avenue around 5:30 a.m. RCMP said when they arrived the house was already engulfed in flames, preventing crews from going into the home to rescue the boy.

"They got up and it was a matter of I guess minutes," Everett said. "Apparently the house was engulfed and gone within 10 minutes."

The family had only moved to the area a couple of months ago to enjoy the country and raise the kids, Everett said. They were renting the home and lost everything in the fire.

Everett said they are safely staying with family members but "they are struggling."

"I can't even fathom what Merle and Melissa are going through," he said.

The Portage la Prairie school division has had their emergency response person at the boy's school all day Tuesday to help students and staff deal with the tragedy. Division officials said the extra support will remain in place on an ongoing basis.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Both the RCMP and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are investigating.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to help the family.

Delta Beach is 90 kilometres west of Winnipeg.