Woman's death in South Rawdon fire was a homicide, RCMP say

RCMP are now calling the death of a woman in a South Rawdon, N.S., fire a homicide.

A 27-year-old woman died in the April 3 fire that started in a garage on South Rawdon Road in Hants County. Two young children were rescued from the adjacent home.

RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said while the fire was the cause of the woman's death, police are not calling it arson.

"I can't really get into whether it was an arson or not," Clarke said."Whether it was accidental or intentional, it's really not for me to say right now. That's not information I can release."

RCMPhave not released the woman's name.

The Office of the Fire Marshal had been called in to help investigate the cause of the fire.

An autopsy on the woman was conducted the day after the fire.

Appeal for public's help

The RCMP's major crimes unit has been investigating the blaze and officers have searched two homes in Lower Sackville in connection with the investigation. No charges have been laid.

Police are asking anyone with information about the fire, or events that may have led to it, to contact them.

"Our hope is by putting this out into the public eye again to get more information from the public aboutanything that might have been happening in South Rawdon on April 3 or anything that might have led to what happened here," Clarke said.

Tips can be sent to the RCMPby calling 1-800-803-7267 or by calling CrimeStoppersanonymously at 1-800-222-8477.