Homicide investigators probe fatal Coquitlam house fire

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken overthe scene of a fire in Coquitlam, B.C., that left two people dead.

The fire broke out in the homeat 1140Cottonwood Avenue, near Como Lake Park, just after midnight Tuesday morning. Neighbours report hearing a scream and bang before the flames broke out in an upstairs bedroom.

Police saya section of the home was engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, and crews found the bodies of a man and woman inside the burning home.

"Right now, this is really all we can say. Its in the very early stages [of the investigation]," said RCMP Cpl. Daniel Rettenbacher early Tuesday morning.

Police say it doesn't appear anyone else was inside the home at the time.

The home, which is alsohoused a Frenchdaycare,has a sign out front indicating it was recently sold.

Investigators are still trying to determine how the man and woman died, the victims' identities and the cause of the fire.

Police are calling the fire suspicious and say they don't believe anyone else is involved in the deaths. Butthey wouldn't speculate as to whether it could be a murder-suicide.

Neighbourssay a mother of three who was recently separatedlived in the home with her adult son.