Delayed ignition, boiler explosion the cause of fatal Regina carbon monoxide leak, fire service says

Investigators say a boiler explosion caused a carbon monoxide leak that killed 11-year-old Henry Losco in a Regina apartment last December. Jacob Carr reports.

Regina Fire and Protective Services (RFPS) has concluded its investigation into a carbon monoxide leak that led to the death of 11-year-old Henry Losco late last year.

The fatal incident on Dec. 19, 2025, was caused by a delayed ignition and resulting explosion involving one of the boilers inside the apartment building Losco was living in with his family.

According to RFPS, the explosion damaged the system and allowed the boiler to begin emitting carbon monoxide into the apartment building, located on the 1800 block of Albert Street.

“It would have happened relatively quickly,” said Regina Fire Chief Layne Jackson on Wednesday morning.

“When there was an explosion it dislodged venting components and the boiler was allowed then to emit products of combustion and carbon monoxide within the building.”

Henry Losco and his father, Sergio Losco, were found unconscious in the family’s apartment on the building’s fourth floor.

Henry was declared dead at the scene, while Sergio was rushed to hospital and survived.

Jackson confirmed that alarms went off in the building at the time of the incident.

RFPS identified the equipment involved as an NTI FTG 2000, 2,000,000 BTU natural gas-fired boiler.

The boiler’s manufacturer, Ariston Canada Inc., formerly NTI Boilers Inc. has now issued a safety notice. The company is warning people to discontinue using the boiler immediately, advising them to install an upgrade kit that involves a new control board and ignition electrode.

But for Henry’s parents, the notice is of little solace.

“Too little, too late. If they knew that there was something wrong with these, and there’s been history with these boilers, they should have recalled them all,” Henry’s mother, Marina Hills, told reporters.

When asked on Wednesday, Chief Jackson said he could not comment on any sort of possible human failing or error, but confirmed that Regina Fire’s investigation with the Regina Police Service is still ongoing.

Jackson also declined to comment on whether the building was up to code as it was still under review.

The fire chief added it was a good opportunity to remind the public of the importance of building safety.

“We always want to make residents and the public aware that any type of fuel-fired appliance that you have within your homes or within your buildings need to be regularly maintained, serviced and kept in good repair,” he said.

“Carbon monoxide alarms, smoke alarms and so within your residence or within buildings is vital and important for early detection and alerting of occupants so they can act and react.”

During legislative proceedings on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan NDP questioned the government on what measures, if any, have been taken since Losco’s death to prevent similar incidents.

“Under Saskatchewan law currently, a carbon monoxide alarm was not mandatory in his unit,” NDP MLA Meara Conway said during question period. “His mother told us that Henry was a cautious child. If he’d heard an alarm, he would have run for safety. No alarm came that day.”

“Now, four months later, what action has been taken?” she asked.

Minister of Government Relations Eric Schmalz offered his condolences to Losco’s family and said the provincial government is reviewing RFPS’s findings.

“No child should ever have to endure that, nor should any family,” he said. “We will continue to review building codes and requirements alongside the report to ensure that we are providing safe places for people to live.”

In the midst of their grief and their anger, Henry’s parents have added a new permanent roommate to their dwelling.

A golden retriever puppy named Benjamin, which was Henry’s middle name.

“My son always wanted a golden retriever, so this is one of the ways we are going to honour my son,” Hills said. “We are happy even though our sadness, he can feel our sadness, the puppy feels our sadness.”

Henry’s parents say they have hired a lawyer and are looking to not only change carbon monoxide legislation, but also create laws that more severely punish violations of building codes and regulations.