Calgary police believe father intended to kill both daughters in fatal fire

Calgary police are considering the death and injury of two sisters in a house fire in northwest Calgary intentional.

Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta said Tuesday police are investigating the situation as a homicide and attempted murder.

Heidar Dehdari, 56, and his eldest daughter Dorsa Dehdari, 22, both died in the incident on Kincora Drive Saturday afternoon. Schiavetta said Tuesday the younger daughter Dorna, 15, remains in life-threatening condition.

WATCH: Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta explains what police know happened in a house prior to a fatal fire that is being investigated as a homicide.

0:15 ‘There was a lot of domestic tension’: Calgary police on fatal house fire

Officials believe an altercation occurred within the home between the father and the daughters prior to the fire.

They could not confirm the cause of the deaths or whether the father intended to harm himself.

WATCH (May 28, 2019): Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta explains why police are investigating a fatal Calgary house fire as a homicide.

0:33 Police do not know if suspect’s death in fatal fire was intentional

However, police are calling this a “domestically motivated homicide and attempted murder.”

“There was a lot of domestic tension within this residence which led to a violent confrontation on Saturday and we are investigating this as a homicide as well as an attempted murder.”

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Schiavetta told reporters the entire family lived in the home at the time of the fire, including Heidar. He also confirmed the mother, Leila Dehdari, was not home at the time of the incident.

READ MORE: Red ribbons adorn trees around Calgary neighbourhood to mourn victims of fatal fire

According to Schiavetta, police had been called to the home once before for a “domestic event” in December 2018, which was “verbal in nature.”

WATCH (May 27, 2019): A troubling picture is emerging from this weekend’s tragic fire in northwest Calgary. It’s believed the intentional blaze claimed the lives of a father and his oldest daughter. Jill Croteau has the latest.

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A statement from the Dehdari family was offered to the media Tuesday via the police that read:

“We wish to share that the news published by various media outlets to date was not provided by our family and we do not confirm the accuracy or any content published. We are now asking for our privacy to be respected at this time of unimaginable sorrow.”

The Kincora Community Association has set up a GoFundMe page for the family.

Calgary police said anyone experiencing a similar situation is encouraged to reach out for help to either the Calgary police Victims Assistance Support Team (VAST) at 403-428-8398 or the Distress Centre at 403-266-4357.

Anyone with information on the fire is being asked to contact police at 403-266-1234.