Family mourns 'fierce' 78-year-old woman who died in rural Manitoba house fire

A family is mourning and still trying to make sense of the loss of a 78-year-old loved one they say was a fierce and loving woman, following a deadly house fire in rural Manitoba earlier this week. 

Gloria Alagao, 78, was pronounced dead after a Monday night fire on Dawson Road in Richer, Man.

The community's fire department battled the blaze, and paramedics and police also responded, but were unable to save Alagao.

"I just remember yelling for her and just praying that she would just get out, [that] someone would just get her out," her daughter, Victoria Mayner, told CBC while fighting back tears Thursday night. 

"But that didn't happen." 

Mayner's 15-year-old son, Tyson, was also in the house that night, and tried to help get his grandmother — known as "Mama Gloria" — out safely. 

"What he remembers is his mama calling for his name, but he couldn't get to her," she said. "It's tough for him and he'll get through it.… He's a tough cookie." 

He was taken to hospital by STARS air ambulance for treatment for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, RCMP said in a news release earlier this week.

Tyson and his grandmother were the only people in the house at the time of the fire. Mayner said she and her husband were out and rushed home.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but early signs point to a lamp in the living room, Mayner said. 

"You miss one little thing, and the next thing you know, everything that you work so hard for and you've done for so long for every single day, just to be comfortable, is all gone in seconds."

She said while her mother had only lived with them at their home in Richer, around 50 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, for about four years, she made a lasting impact on everyone she met in the small community.

"'Fierce' is probably the best word you can use to describe her," said Mayner.

"No one could tell her what to do, what to say," she said. "She was such a fun mom, auntie, sister all her life."

Before moving to Richer, Alagao had a decades-long career as a health-care aide in Winnipeg, Mayner said. 

Community bands together to support family 

Meanwhile, support is pouring in for the Mayners in Richer, including from Norm Burnell, the owner of Burnell's Food Plus, a local grocery store.

He'll be donating a portion of his sales in December to the family, and is also collecting donations at the store on behalf of the Mayners, whom he described as a "very fun family to be around."

A number of other fundraisers have also been started in support of the family, he said. As of Thursday night, he said more than $1,000 in cash had been raised. 

The community of around 600 is tightly knit, and when something happens, everyone wants to help, he said. 

"It's a devastation for the whole community," he said. "That's my worst fear, is if my home or business would burn down — it takes a while to catch up from that." 

Mayner said she's grateful for the support. The last few days have been overwhelming, she said, allowing herself a moment to laugh as she apologized to any people she hasn't gotten back to yet. 

While there's a long road ahead for her family, they aim to eventually rebuild in Richer, she said.

"Just hold on to your loved ones.… Appreciate every day that you have with them," said Mayner. "Life is short and it can be taken away just like that."