Homicide unit investigating deadly Pritchard Avenue house fire

The Winnipeg Police Service's homicide unit is investigating a deadly house fire in Winnipeg's North End that claimed the life of one person on Monday.

Firefighters were firstcalled to the 600 block of Pritchard Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. andextinguishedflames on the main floor and in the attic, a City of Winnipeg spokesperson told CBC News.

In an emailsent early Monday afternoon,the spokesperson saideveryone got out of the home before fire crewsarrived.

However, members ofthe Winnipeg Police Service's identification unit were seen taking a stretcher, with a body on it,out of the housearound 5:30 p.m.

Police confirmed the death was associated with the fire, buthave not released any more details about the body that was removed from the home.

Craig Young lives nearby andsaid a couple (a man and a woman)has been watching the house the last few weeks for a relative who owns the home.

"When I got up this morning, there was a bit of smoke in the house and I actually thought this house was on fire," Young said, addingthe flames hesaw grewand becamehuge.

Young said he and the man who has been watching the home recently started speaking with each other.

"I talked with him; we struck up a friendship over the last few days," Young said. "It's just a sad situation to see.

"Just recently, the actual lady who lives in the house, her husband died, he had pneumonia, and that's only a few weeks ago, so it's going to be rough on the whole family," Young said.

Police tape continues to surround the house as of early Monday night.As well, police and fire commissioner vehicles remain at the scene.

Investigators could not say whether the fire was the product of arson.

Two cats died in the fire, according to the city.