Halifax firefighters have officially released the causes behind two tragic fires that occurred in January, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. The devastating incidents, which took place on January 11 and January 24, were both attributed to electrical sources. Alarmingly, there were no working smoke alarms in either of the affected homes.

The first fire ignited just after 3:00 a.m. on January 11 in Lower Sackville. At the time, six individuals were present in the home. Fortunately, a 37-year-old female and a 2-year-old child managed to escape the flames. A 40-year-old man was rescued by a neighbor and subsequently transported to the hospital. Fire services bravely rescued three young children, aged 5, 6, and 9, who were all taken to the hospital for treatment.

Tragically, despite efforts to save them, the three children later succumbed to their injuries while in hospital care. Among the children were Alauna, aged 9, and Cayson, aged 5, who were remembered for their "unimaginable strength" according to a GoFundMe page established for their family. The 6-year-old, Chloe, was visiting the family at the time of the fire. The last update from the family reported that parents, Tanya and Jermaine, received the keys to their new home on April 15, marking a bittersweet milestone as they grieved their losses.

The parents expressed their mixed emotions in an update, stating, "It’s a bittersweet moment—while we’re thankful to step into this new chapter, we’re doing it without our sweet Launie, Cayson, and Chloe. Their absence is felt in everything. We will never be whole again, but thanks to you, our family has a safe and loving space where we can continue to heal."

The second fire occurred on January 24, during the afternoon hours, at a residence located at 1 Thompson St. in Dartmouth. Multiple firefighter teams swiftly responded to the scene. Two adults were rescued from the structure; however, both individuals later succumbed to their injuries while receiving medical care in the hospital. The fire is reported to have started in the living room, and as with the previous incident, no smoke alarms were present in the home.