Canadian Fire Kills Child and Grandfather; Arson Suspected

MONTREAL (CP) -- A four-year-old girl and her grandfather died in a blaze early Friday that police are investigating after firefighters say they found traces of accelerant in the home.

There were no smoke detectors, said fire Chief Jean-Louis Bachand. A woman and a two-year-old girl were injured but were expected to recover.

``We found traces of accelerant in the entrance so the investigation has been turned over to the police,'' Bachand said.

Bachand said firefighters often see the tragic results of fires in residences without smoke detectors or detectors that have had their batteries removed.

``This can be avoided if people having working smoke detectors.''

The two children were recently brought to Montreal from Haiti by their grandparents after their parents had died in the Caribbean country.

Three children recently died in a house fire where there were also no smoke detectors.