Remains from fire to undergo autopsy

Human remains were discovered in the aftermath of a trailer fire on the Copper Haul Road area on Sunday.

Human remains were discovered in the aftermath of a trailer fire on the Copper Haul Road area on Sunday.

Just before 7 a.m., fire crews responded to a report of a blaze in a small construction trailer at the Norcope Enterprises gravel pit, located about three kilometres south on Copper Haul Road from Fish Lake Road.

They were able to extinguish the flames and found the remains during the mop-up phase of their work.

The RCMP’s “M” Division Major Crimes Unit and “M” Division Forensic Identification Services officers attended the scene.

The Whitehorse Fire Department, Yukon Coroner Services and the police are continuing the investigation.

Police will not release the name of the deceased until the identity is confirmed through an autopsy and the victim’s family has been notified.

Sgt. Don Rogers said this afternoon the person found in the trailer may have been the property’s caretaker, but that police cannot confirm the identity until an autopsy is completed.

The Yukon coroner’s office said it could not identify the age nor gender of the victim.

“We couldn’t identify anything,” acting chief coroner Julius Debuschewitz told the Star this morning.

“It has to come down to the autopsy and who knows what else.”

The RCMP will continue to investigate and treat the matter as suspicious until determined otherwise, Rogers, the RCMP’s spokesperson, said
Sunday.

Anyone with information on the investigation, or anyone who may have witnessed a fire at the Norcope Enterprises gravel pit, is asked to contact
the RCMP at 667-5555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222 TIPS (8477).