The identities of the three subjects recovered from the Nunam Iqua fire on June 28th were released by authorities on Monday.

The three persons killed in the early morning hours of June 28th when a fire broke out near the entrance of the home were identified as 43-year-old Joseph Ignatius, 25-year-old Edward Murphy and an eight year old child, Cyprian Ignatius.

The three victims were living in the home with eleven others when the fire broke out in the early morning hours of June 28th. Becaquse of the liocation of the fire, all of the people in the house that escaped, had to do so through a back window of the residence.

Village residents worked to extinguish the flames using buckets then small water hoses. They were successful in putting out the flames but not before the structure was largely consumed in the fire. Three bodies were located and removed from the burned-out home.

Alaska State Troopers were informed of the fire at 6:20 am. A trooper from Saint Marys and a Deputy Fire Marshal traveled to the village and conducted an investigation into the fire. The investigation has yet to determine if the fire was intentionally set or if it was accidental. That investigation continues.

Two other residents in the home were medevaced to Bethel for treatment of smoke inhalation and minor burns. They were further transported to Anchorage for further treatment.

Nunam Iqua, with its population of approximately 190 lies at the mouth of the Yukon River. The community had its beginnings as a saltry built in 1930s. A man named Sheldon operated the saltry there and the area became known as Sheldon’s Point. The name was changed to Nunam Iqua in 1999. The name Nunam Iqua, in Yupik, means “The end of the Tundra.”