OROVILLE – A Saskatchewan man who winters each year in Oroville died in a fatal motorhome fire in Prince’s RV Park in the early morning hours last Saturday.

The Oroville Fire, Police and Ambulance departments, as well as an Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the scene at 1000 23rd Ave. on Jan. 25 at around 4:06 a.m., according to Sheriff Frank Rogers. When emergency personnel arrived they believed a subject was staying in the trailer but were not sure and the fire at the trailer was fully involved, said the sheriff.

“Once the fire was put out they discovered the body of Cornelius D. Friesen, 84, of Glenbush, Saskatchewan. The trailer belonged to Friesen, who comes down to Oroville during the winter and was living in the trailer. Detective Sloan from the Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene to investigate the cause,” said Rogers.

At this time it appears that the fire was caused by space heater in the trailer and Friesen was the only one in the trailer at the time of the fire. Family members of the well-known Canadian snowbird have been notified