Sudbury family mourns man killed in trailer fire
By Jim Moodie, The Sudbury Star
Published: August 10, 2016
Link to article: Sudbury family mourns man killed in trailer fire
A Blezard Valley man killed in a trailer fire last week is being mourned by family and friends.
An obituary published this week memorializes Daniel Mercier, who died at the age of 47 on Aug. 2.
That was the same date a camper trailer he called home on Lumsden R
oad was found burnt to the ground and a body discovered in the wreckage.
Police did not release the victim's name, but friends said Mercier was the trailer's resident and they presumed he was the fire's casualty.
"Dan was at his happiest when he was driving anything and everything," the obit reads. "He was very determined in everything he did."
Mercier is survived by mother Pauline, children Danika, Derick and Izabella, and brothers Donald and Ben.
"He was very kind and had a big heart," according to the obit. "He was quite content with the simpler things in life."
The source of the fatal blaze remains undetermined at this point.
"The Fire Marshal has to do a report and send it to the fire chief," said George Lalonde, platoon chief with Greater Sudbury Fire Services. "That can take six to eight weeks."
Lalonde said sometimes investigators can't pinpoint the exact cause.
In this case, "everything was so consumed, so it makes it difficult," he said.
The camper trailer was off the grid, which would rule out a typical sort of electrical fire, although there was a generator on the site, noted Lalonde.
Mercier's family said there would be no visitation or service, in keeping with Daniel's wishes.