2 children, 1 adult in critical condition after fire now deemed suspicious

Two children and one adult remained in hospital in critical condition Mondayafter what police are now calling a suspicious house fire in Surrey, B.C., over the weekend.

Crews responded to reports of a fire at about 10:30 a.m. PT Sunday near 144B Street and 71 Avenue in the East Newton area, said John Lehmann with the Surrey Fire Service.

Lehmann said there was smoke coming from the basement suite when crews arrived, and firefighters learned there were peoplestill inside.

Surrey Fire ChiefLarry Thomas said 24 firefighters were on the scene and the blaze was quickly extinguished.

Crews rescued three residents from the suite, including the two children, all of whom had sustained "significant injuries."

Surrey RCMP said the third person, who was also taken to hospital, is the father of the two children.

Both Surrey Fire andB.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS)said a fourth person was taken to hospital. Thomas said that person was also afamily member. It is not known if they were also in the basement suite.

The parent of the children has since been released, Const. Richard Wright said.

RCMP were called to the house earlier Sunday before the fire started, but Wright did not say why or if it was related to the fire.

Nocharges have been laid.

"We're currently on scene with Surrey Fire Serviceto try to discern what the cause of the fire was and hopefully we're able to get some answers for these two kids," Wright said.

No fire damage was visible at the front of the home on Monday afternoon, but the smell of smoke was still apparent at the back of the house.

A stroller and child's tricycle could be seen in the backyard.

Anyone with information is asked to contactSurrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-8477 orsolvecrime.ca