‘Those children were so loved’: Candlelight vigil, walk held for 3 children who died in N.S. house fire

Hundreds of people attended a walk in support of a Lower Sackville, N.S., family on Thursday following a fatal fire.

Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil and walk Thursday evening to remember three children who lost their lives following a house fire in Lower Sackville, N.S., over the weekend.

Participants gathered at Sackville High School before a slow walk to the house on Riverside Drive where a moment of silence was observed.

Family members in attendance said the event meant a lot during a difficult time.

“It shows me the respect that the community of Sackville has had for my granddaughter, the support has been unreal,” said Chloe’s grandfather, Nickie Clarke.

“And it’s been hard, and to know that residents of the area have shown support means a whole lot to my family, to the Steiger family, and to everyone that’s involved.”

Chloe’s grandmother said there has been an overwhelming amount of support towards the Steiger-Loppie family.

“It’s just amazing how much the community came out to support them and support those families, it’s just, we’re just overwhelmed by it,” said Cathy Steiger.

“Those children were so loved and so cared for and their parents are going to have to rebuild their lives and this is amazing what they’re doing for them.”

Early-morning fire

The fire broke out in the Steiger-Loppie family’s duplex on around 3:10 a.m. Saturday.

The mother, Tanya Steiger, managed to escape with her two-year-old, Maria.

Siblings five-year-old Cayson and nine-year-old Alauna have since died, along with their cousin, six-year-old Chloe, who had been living with the family for two years.

Their father, Jermaine Loppie, was placed in a medically-induced coma and awoke Tuesday morning. He was released from hospital on Thursday.

The family says Cayson also became an organ donor and was honoured with a “Hero’s Walk” at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax Thursday morning.

Online fundraisers

Family friends have set up an online fundraiser for the family to help rebuild what was lost in the fire. As of Friday morning, the GoFundMe was sitting at more than $123,000.

The fundraiser for Chloe’s funeral costs has closed since reaching its goal.

Many local businesses have also found ways to show support, collecting proceeds from store purchases to donate to the family.

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