Witness to fatal Cavendish cottage fire heads home with victims' families — and his own — on his mind

A family visiting a P.E.I. campground on the weekend headed home to Nova Scotia with heavy hearts after witnessing a fatal fire early Sunday morning.

Ian Kerr and his extended family were staying at the Green Gables Bungalow Court Cottages in Cavendish when a neighbouring cottage caught fire.

One person died and three others were injured, one seriously.

Kerr said he got a "frantic" knock on the door shortly after 6 a.m. from someone telling them to evacuate because the building behind them was engulfed in flames.

"Instantly you could hear the roaring of the fire," he said. "The air was enveloped in smoke, a black smoke. It's construction fire, it's not a normal — like a campfire. It's a very distinctive smell."

He then saw three men being treated by paramedics.

One young fella dropped to his knees and said, "Oh my God, he can't still be in there; oh my God he can't still be in there."— Ian Kerr

"One young fella dropped to his knees and said, 'Oh my God, he can't still be in there; oh my God, he can't still be in there,' and at that point, in your heart you know that something tragic has happened."

After firefighters were finally able to extinguish the fire, human remains were found inside.

The fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire, the medical examiner is determining the cause of death, and police will assess whether anything that happened would constitute a crime, said RCMP Cpl. Gavin Moore.

At this point, the P.E.I. coroner's office hasn't officially identified the person who died. 

"These things take time," Moore said. "We work with our partners and once we have all the information, then we're able to make clear determinations.

"Certainly just our thoughts are with the grieving families in this case."

Kerr too is thinking about the victims' families, as well as his own. While some people left the campground that same day, they chose to stay another night.

"The kids are still asking me constant questions…. In time, I hope we can clear that up with them and they'll come to terms with it, but at this point in time, we're ready to go home and kind of carry on with life and wish their families the best."