Fatal Surrey fire cause still not known

A memorial started by neighbours and the community had started to build in front of the charred house Wednesday on the 9400 block of 125 Street.

The fire began early Tuesday morning, with the parents of the girls — Priya Saroya, 2 and Sajel Saroya, 5 — trying in vain to get them out of the house.

Neighbours said they were awoken by the screams of a couple trapped on the roof of the two-storey home.

"When I came out, I just saw [the] couple sitting on the roof screaming for help. And I just tried to get those guys out," said Tony Johal.

The parents remained secluded at the nearby home of a relative, the girls' uncle, Manjinder Saroya, told CBC News. The father was so distraught, he had to seek medical help Wednesday, Saroya said.

"They're in really big shock … what happened to the kids," Saroya said.

The family had moved into the two-storey house seven months ago.

Fundraising efforts have begun to try to help the family recover financially.

"People are really in mourning," said local radio talk show host Ravinder Gill. "They really want to help."