Working groups are now drafting these standards. The challenge now is to learn from this tragedy and make sure that a similar accident doesn' t happen again. The fire marshal's report concludes there was no negligence associated with the accident. The findings indicate Mr. Sutherland was trapped inside the burning house when the upper floor collapsed. He died of suffocation after running out of air.
Tests show the firefighter's tank was working properly at the time of the accident.
Fire marshal officials interviewed witnesses, tested equipment and examined the fire scene as part of their investigation. RCMP and officers with the Department of Labour's occupational health and safety division assisted. A followup analysis of the accident was conducted by the three departments that responded to the fire. These departments, from Caribou, Abercrombie and Pictou, are now addressing various fire safety issues such as training and mutual aid. The cause of the fire was determined to be careless smoking.