Central Alberta RCMP are investigating, after a rural home went up in flames Sunday morning, and continued to burn into the next day – with three people unaccounted for and presumed dead.
RCMP told CTV News officers were called to a home located outside of Castor, Alberta, between 7 and 8 am Sunday, where firefighters were dealing with a house fire.
CTV News has learned from a witness that the fire started early Sunday morning, an eyewitness said he saw the house fully engulfed in flames at about 6:30 a.m., and he called 911.
According to the witness, the son of the couple who owned the home said his parents and sister had been inside the house – the three are presumed dead.
They were identified as Gordon and Sandi Klaus, and their daughter Monica.
Police said members from the RCMP forensic ID section were working with provincial fire investigators to confirm their identities.
However, as of midday Monday, RCMP said the blaze had not been completely extinguished, so investigators had not yet had a chance to comb through evidence at the scene.
RCMP confirmed the home was completely destroyed.
Castor is located about 143 kilometres east of Red Deer.
With files from Stephanie Wiebe
