International student killed in Sydney house fire

An international student died in a house fire in Sydney, N.S., on Saturday, according to the presidentof Cape Breton University Students' Union.

Fire officials have not yet confirmed the victim's identity.

CBU's Damanpreet Singh saidhe visited the scene after the fire and was shocked to discover the victimwas astudent at the university. He was wellliked, said Singh.

"He was studying his post-baccalaureatein business analytics. He came here toSydney in September 2021. He worked in daycare services.... He wasreally, really a good person," Singh said.

There were eight international students living in the house, saidSingh, who met with theseven other roommates after the fire.

Firefightersresponded to a call abouta garbage fire at 222 Park St. at around 3:10 p.m on Saturday, according to Chris March, the deputy fire chief of the Cape Breton Regional Fire Service.

Cape Breton Regional Police and the fire marshal were notified, March said, and the fire is under investigation.

"There was heavy smoke conditions and fire before they even exited the truck, sothey know they had a working structure fire," March said.

Firefighters conducted a search of the building and found onepersondead. Marchsaid he could provide no information about the victim.

According to Singh, the sevenstudents arereceiving clothing and food donations from the students' union.Singh said Sydney'scommunity has also been helpful with donations and support.

The students were all in shock when Singharrived on the scene.

"They just met with himin the morning, and in the evening, this thing has happened. So, theywere not able totalk properly at themoment when I went there to meet with them," Singhsaid.

According to Singh, the student was from southern India. Singh, who is from northern India, said that as an international student himself, the tragedy is heartbreaking.

"We are herevery far from our families, we sometimes feelhomesickness here," Singh said."The death of a young man is a tragedy forour international community because we have a lot of dreams here in our eyes.... We want to shine the name of our parents here andshine the name of our families, too."

He said the death weighs heavily on CBU's student body and that the students' union sends its condolences to his family and is willing to help in any waythey can.

March believes a neighbour called the fire department and thatthere wassignificant damage to the property. No one else was injured in the blaze and no neighbouring properties were damaged, according to March.

Firefighters are concerned about the victim's family and friends, said March, "and of course for our first responders who encountered that."

March said that although the cause of the fire has not yet been identified, it's a brutalreminder about firerisksat this time of year.

"Make sure that people are practicingsafe behaviours when cooking and when decorating for Christmas. And make sure you have a working smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector in your home if you havea flame source. And just exercise caution, especially during the holidays," he said.