Homicide detectives are investigating after a woman’s body was found at the scene of a house fire that broke out in northeast Edmonton early Tuesday, according to the Edmonton Police Service.
In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, police said the fire had been deemed “suspicious.” An EPS spokesperson also said homicide detectives were leading the investigation, and that they were receiving help from arson investigators.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m., an Edmonton Fire Rescue Services spokesperson told Global News that three other people were removed from the home and treated at the scene by paramedics for undisclosed injuries.
Alberta Health Services said EMS took two adults to hospital in serious but non-life-threatening condition. AHS said one person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police confirmed the body was discovered in the basement of the home.
Global News has learned the person who died was a woman. Global News has also learned that a lifeless dog was found at the scene.
EFRS said firefighters were called to a home in the area of 121st Avenue and 37th Street just before 2:30 a.m. The spokesperson said firefighters saw flames and heavy smoke emerging from the home.
The fire was deemed to be under control at 3:41 a.m. and was declared out at 4:25 a.m.
Police tape could be seen at the scene of the fire.
It was not immediately clear how the fire started.
“This is an ongoing investigation with EFRS, EPS and the medical examiner’s office,” an EFRS spokesperson said.
Global News spoke to two people who are neighbours of the people living in the home that caught fire. Global News has agreed not to identify them after they expressed concerns about their safety.
Both men told Global News that they have seen police at the home on numerous occasions in the past year. One of the neighbours said he heard yelling coming from the home and the sound of glass breaking sometime before the home caught fire.
One of the neighbours told Global News he called 911. He also said he heard what sounded to him like at least two of the people who escaped the fire trying to go back in to save the dog inside.
–with files from Breanna Karstens-Smith, Global News