Man in custody after 3 found dead in Portage la Prairie home following fire
Deaths considered suspicious, RCMP say
A man is in police custody after three people were found dead in a Portage la Prairie, Man., home after a fire early Sunday.
Emergency crews were called to a home on 7th Street SE in Portage la Prairie — about 75 kilometres west of Winnipeg — at about 1 a.m. after reports of a fire, RCMP said in a news release Sunday afternoon.
Once the fire crews managed to put out the fire, three people were found dead inside the home. RCMP said they consider the deaths suspicious.
One man is in custody.
Neighbour Codie Kidston said she was in her living room when she saw police and fire vehicles arrive on the street Sunday morning at about 1:30 a.m. That drew Kidston outside, where she says she could see smoke coming from the home.
"I bet you probably every fire engine in Portage was lined up down here," said Kidston. "I was concerned…It's right out my back door."
Kidston said she doesn't know the tenants but believes a couple and two children were among those living there. She said they moved in a few months ago.
The Portage la Prairie Fire Department declined to provide details.
The RCMP and office of the fire commissioner are investigating.
With files from Karen Pauls