Fire department, police investigating after 2 people dead in house fire near Regina General Hospital

Two people are dead after a fire just east of Regina General Hospital early Wednesday morning.

The local fire department said crews arrived on the scene in the 2100 block of Winnipeg St. at 12:39 a.m. CST.

Firefighters found flames and smoke coming through the roof.

Once they were able to get the fire under control, they located two people dead on the second floor.

The Regina Police Service and Regina Fire and Protective Services are now investigating with the assistance of the coroner's service.

Regina fire Chief Layne Jackson said the coroner will ultimately determine the causes of death. His department remains in the initial stages of their investigation.

Investigators wearing white, full body uniforms and respirators could be seen gearing up before heading into the burned out building.

Wednesday's blaze was the second deadly fire in the city in less than two weeks, according to fire officials.

The other, which also killed two people, happened at a home on Rae Street.

"We see ebbs and flows with fires throughout the year. Obviously in the winter season, the colder season, we see an uptick of fires, just with heating and different things that folks will do at this time of year," Jackson said during a news conference Wednesday.

"We're seeing some occupancies too where folks are living in conditions where there's no utilities within their homes, and that can cause some extra risks too."

Jackson is encouraging people to make sure they have working smoke detectors.

The Regina Police Service said officers have been providing traffic control, along with assistance to those affected by the fire.

Officers have also secured the scene and will remain on site until the fire investigation is complete.

Jackson said he expects the scene will be cleared by early tomorrow morning.