BOUCTOUCHE, N.B. – A fire has claimed the lives of two people, RCMP in Bouctouche believe.
The fire occurred on Denis Street in Bouctouche at about 1:40 a.m. on Sunday morning. When crews arrived to the scene, they say the house was fully engulfed in flames.
Two people, a man and a woman, were able to escape. The owners of the home say that two other people, a man and women were also in the house at the time of the fire.
RCMP believe the couple were unable to escape and may have died in the fire after being overcome by smoke and heat or as a result of being trapped inside.
Officials say the ability to search for the couple during the fire was difficult because of the intense smoke and heat.
“An attempt to search through the debris during the day has been unsuccessful due to the extensive damage caused by the fire and also the heat coming from the debris,” the RCMP said in a release.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by police and the New Brunswick Fire Marshal.
Two other N.B. fires over the weekend
Fires have forced two other people out of their homes over the Labour Day weekend.
The Canadian Red Cross says a man lost his home and belongings in a fire late Sunday in the rural community of Divide, about 30 kilometres northeast of Florenceville-Bristol.
In Bouctouche, the Red Cross says one person was displaced by fire that extensively damaged a two-storey home Sunday.
The group says it helped provide the residents with clothing, food and personal-care items.
No one was injured in the fires.
With files from the Canadian Press
Comments