Victims of fire were familiar faces in neighbourhood

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Victims of fire were familiar faces in neighbourhood
One of them has been identified as Steven Yellowquill
Renee Bernard Dec 23, 2010 22:00:29 PM
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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A church minister says even though they were panhandlers, the three men who lost their lives in a Vancouver house fire this week were very connected to their community.

Reverend Barry Morris with the Longhouse Council of Native Ministry, a church the men frequented,  says the men who lived in the house on Pandora and Renfrew were known for their gentleness and how they looked out for each other.

"I mean it wasn't uncommon for one of them to come down to the church on a Sunday, if one of the fellows was ill or sick or not doing well. They would bring some left-over food from a church function back to the house to help them out," remembers Morris.

Morris has learned one of the deceased was Steven Yellowquill, but he's still waiting to hear who the other victims were.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Sun says the city has now told the landlord the building will have to be demolished, because of various safety infractions. City staff say they found space in the Kitsilano shelter for a man named Ken who lived in the burned-out home.  Staff say they're working to find him other housing.

The fire was started by a faulty extension cord connected to an old set of Christmas lights. Seven men lived in the home which was operating illegally as a rooming house