WINNIPEG - A memorial has been scheduled for Monday to remember the 5 family members who were killed by a house fire at 11 Woodlark Place.
Family made the difficult decision to remove 6 month old Hoorya Farooq from life support late Friday after it was clear the little girl would not recover from her injuries, according the Islamic Social Services Organization that has been speaking for the family.
Fire broke out in the family’s side-by-side home at 11 Woodlark Place in West Kildonan Tuesday night at about 8 pm. Hoorya’s older sisters Fayza, 9 and Alysa, 4 died along with mother, 33 year old Zebunesa Sadiq, and 60 year old grandmother Shemeem Akhtar who was visiting from Pakistan. They all died of smoke inhalation. The girls’ father, Hamid Farooq was not home at the time of the fire.
Baby Hoorya survived in hospital in critical condition but family members made it clear Wednesday that while they were praying for a miracle, there was little hope for her. Doctors said there was very little brain activity.
In a news conference earlier Friday, Winnipeg police said the fire was not considered suspicious. Officers said there had been no 911 call from the home at the time of the fire, and was likely the family was overcome by smoke before they could call for help.
Police say there were smoke detectors in the home but investigators were still trying to determine if they were working. It’s still not clear what sparked the fire.
A memorial has been planned for Monday, January 30th at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque located at 2445 Waverley Street from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Funerals will take place in Pakistan and over $10,000 has already been raised to help send the family back. The total cost to send the family back to Pakistan is estimated at $25,000. Pakistan Airlines has offered free passage for two adults and are negotiating the remaining travel expenses.
A trust fund for the family has also been set up to help. Donations can be made to the "Team 204 Fund" at any Assiniboine Credit Union branch or you can contact the Islamic Social Services Association at 944-1560.
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