Toddler killed in fire had twin sister

A toddler who died Thursday in an East Vancouver fire caused by space heaters was a twin sister and her death has left the family heartbroken, said a family friend.

“You have no idea,” said Alejandro Chavez, his voice cracking while speaking about two-and-a-half-yearold twins Leslie and Elena Lemus. Chavez identified Elena as the fire victim.

Four other family members were sent to hospital after the blaze in the home at Nootka and 15th.

The mother and father, originally from El Salvador, have lived in Vancouver about 15 years, Chavez said.

On Friday, the mother remained in hospital in intensive care with burns to her hands and face, and suffering from smoke inhalation, Vancouver Fire Chief John McKearney said.

“The probable cause was two space heaters placed very close to the bed of the infant,” McKearney said, The heaters were older units that didn’t meet current standards and the rented house didn’t have smoke detectors.

Chavez said the home’s furnace wasn’t working and the family was told someone would fix it this weekend.