The cause and origin of a house fire which killed a 32-year-old Yellowknife man could not be determined.
The NWT fire marshall’s office has confirmed the investigation into the December 28th, 2018 house fire at a home on 51A Avenue is complete. The fire killed Andrew Debogorski, a well-known Yellowknifer, artist, husband and father of two young children.
READ MORE: Funeral Friday for Yellowknife man who died in tragic house fire
“The cause and origin of the fire couldn’t be determined…this is due to extensive damage to the structure and its contents,” says acting fire marshall Tony Ondrack.
Ondrack says an investigation involves examining the interior and exterior of the home, as well as conducting interviews and taking witness statements. He adds it is common for investigations into these types of fires to be ruled inconclusive.
At the time of his death, Debogorski’s father Alex says his son was confined to a wheelchair and could not speak without the help of a specialized computer program. Debogorski was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2017.
“He suffered greatly considering we had Christmas Eve at his house and he could only move his head. He couldn’t talk and he had to eat with a syringe, directly into his stomach,” Alex told MyYellowknifeNow before his son’s funeral January 11th.
Since Andrew’s diagnosis, and again after his death, the Yellowknife community rallied behind him both assisting the family personally and through fundraisers.
“People in the North especially, but other places too, played a big part in his well being in the condition he was in,” Alex said. “He never gave up, he never wanted to die. He was married eight months to the day he passed away.”
