Sheshatshiu holds service for teen killed in fire

Music filled a school gymnasium in Sheshatshiu Tuesday as students, school officials and residents ofthe small Labrador Innucommunity gathered for a service to rememberateenager who died tragically in a house fire two weeks ago.

Sebastien Rich, 17, wasn't able to withstand severe burns and smoke inhalation when fire raced through an abandoned house in the central Labrador community on Dec. 30.

"It's really hard, but you got to stay strong," said organizer Eugene Hart, referring tothe students who are still reeling fromRich's death. "It's the beginning of the closure. Like, we gotta let go ... this is how we're going to let go."

Father Chris Rushton, who oversaw the service, urged Rich's friends who have unanswered questions about what happened to turn to prayer for guidance.

"Ask God to give us the courage to move on, to let go of some of the pain," he said.

After the service, students headed to the site of the fire now just blackened ground and released balloons into the air. Each balloon carried a feather in honour of Rich's habit of wearing a feather everywhere he went.

Police said Rich and several otherteens whowere at the empty househad litcandles, were smoking and had a fire burning in the wood stove. However, the official cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The fire was so intense that firefighters and the RCMP weren't even sure someone had been in the building until Rich was reported missing later in the day, and a second search of the debris turned up his remains.