REGINA — The conclusion of an investigation resulting in the death of 11-year-old Henry Losco has angered his parents, Sergio Losco and Marina Hills, over what transpired the night of the tragedy.
On Wednesday, Regina Fire & Protective Service (RFPS) confirmed that the carbon monoxide (CO) leak at 1827 Albert Street on Dec. 19 came from a boiler inside the apartment building, which experienced a delayed ignition and eventually exploded.
RFPS Chief Layne Jackson confirmed alarms went off in the building earlier that day upon detection of CO, but Hills expressed frustration that maintenance workers at the apartment didn’t check the boiler room.
“If anybody went to check the fuel-burning appliances, they said they would have clearly seen the [imminent] explosion.”
With no verification of the cause of the alarms setting off, CO continued spreading through the building. Hills said she had been out at the time, arriving back at 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 19 to see Sergio on the floor, struggling to breathe, and Henry unresponsive on his bed. Hills performed CPR on Henry until paramedics arrived, but it was too late.
“The grief is heavy, he was our only son, but there's a lot of anger. My son died in his bed, and he didn't get the chance to save himself.”
Sergio himself was hospitalized, but managed to pull through.
Little too late
The manufacturer of the failed boiler, NTI Boilers Inc. (now Ariston Canada), owned by the Artison Group, based in Italy, has put out a boiler safety advisory for all FTG series models.
“It is critical that all owners and users of boilers immediately stop using the boiler and follow the instructions below. Failure to do so could lead to a delayed ignition event, which could result in serious injury or death,” reads the advisory.
Models made before Jan. 8, 2026, are advised to install a non-cost upgrade kit. In the event users of the boilers have to wait for upgrades, Artison Canada said, “it is important to confirm there are working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed throughout the building, including the boiler room, as stated in the owner’s manual and in accordance with applicable building codes and legal requirements.”
Reacting to the advisory, Hills said: “Too little, too late.”
She added, “My little boy is dead. If they knew that there was something wrong with these and there had been a history with these boilers, they should have recalled them.”
Hills also wonders about the ramifications of a slower ignition.
“That could have blown up the entire building; everybody could have died.”
Call for action:
Hills said the family is working on a bill called “Henry’s Law” with the Saskatchewan NDP.
“We want carbon monoxide detectors in every room, not just near fuel-burning appliances, not just one on a floor. There needs to be one in every room.”
Recently, Ontario changed its law to require CO alarms on every storey of a home, including those without bedrooms.
Hills said this is about preventing this tragedy from happening to any other families.
“We don't want to see any more children die because of this, because a mother finding their child dead in their bed is not something you will ever get past.”
The pair is also speaking with the Italian Foreign Ministry regarding the boiler’s manufacture, as Henry is an Italian national.
“We plan on meeting with them in May to go over and give them an update about the last four months and what's been going on, and this is important, especially now that we found out that this boiler comes from an Italian national company.”
While RFPS has concluded its investigation, Jackson said police are still investigating the matter with assistance from fire services.
A review into whether the apartment met building and fire codes is also ongoing.
Jackson was unable to provide a timeline for when the investigations would be completed.
