Remains found after tent encampment fire 'could take weeks' to identify, police say

The remains of two people found after a Monday afternoon fire at a tent encampmenton Paradise Row "could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks,"to identify, said acting Staff Sgt. Matthew Weir with the Saint John Police Force.

The fire was reported at 3:41 p.m. in a grassy wooded areaalong the side of thebusy four-lane thoroughfare in the north end. It was only once the tentwas extinguished that police discovered there were two bodies inside, Weir said.

The cause of Monday's fire is under investigation.

In January, 44-year-old Evan MacArthur died after the makeshift shelter where he was staying, nearthe Main Street Viaduct over Route 1, caught fire. In February, several people escaped without injuries after theirtentwas deliberately set fireby a passing motorist at an encampment on Waterloo Street.

Weir said whether the victims on Monday's fire will be identified using fingerprints, DNA, or dental records will "depend on the condition of the remains that were found."

WATCH | Saint John police respond to questions about fatal fire:

Saint John police give update on fatal tent fire but with few details

6 months ago

Duration 1:27

Acting Staff Sgt. Matthew Weir says the identities of the two fire victims haven't been established.

Policedeclined to say whether the bodies were male or female.

The fire is under investigation by the major crime unit, which Weir said is called "toany file involving a death to investigate, to speak to witnesses, help determine what had happened and caused the death. They work together in a case like this with the Saint John Fire Department, the coroner's office and our forensic identification services unit."

Weir said police regularly interactwith residents of encampments and encourage them to keep safe.

"Whenever we deal with these people on theday-to-day, we encourage them to utilize the resources that we have in the city for for homeless people," Weir said.

The arearemained cordoned off with police tapeon Tuesday afternoon.

Police are asking anyone with surveillance video or information tocontact the Saint John Police Force at 1-506-648-3333, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1-800-222-T.I.P.S.