Daughter of fire victim describes family problems

Ieisha Simpson, the teen who tried to rescue her family from a burning townhouse, testified at a coroner's inquest on Tuesday that more needs to be done to make children aware of the danger of fires.

She said fire prevention officers need to go to into schools and educate children about what to do when a fire breaks out.

Simpson, who was 16 in 2007 when the fire killed her mother and two siblings, also testified about some of the problems the family was facing.

She said her mother, Diane Anderson, was devastated after her boyfriend was murdered. She said Anderson turned to alcohol and drugs to help ease the pain.

The inquest has heard previous testimony that Anderson had been drinking alcohol when she fell asleep in her armchair the night of the fire. Her two youngest sons started the fire with her lighter while the 35-year-old single mother slept.

The fire occurred three days before Christmas.

In security camera images shown to the jury last week, Ieisha Simpson could be seen running in and out of the burning townhouse.

The teenager rescued her two youngest brothers, but her mother, a nine-year-old sister and a three-year-old brother died of smoke inhalation.

Simpson said she didn't tell Children's Aid about her mother's problems because she feared they would split up the family.

Simpson, now the mother of her own child, said her biggest problem right now is housing.

"I need housing. That's the most important thing here, it's not just me anymore. I have a daughter to think about," she said.

The inquest continues.