Two dead in suspicious Renfrew house fire

Two people are dead after a suspicious house fire at a home on Fortington Street in Renfrew on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.

OTTAWA — Two people are dead after a house fire in Renfrew that police are calling suspicious.

The fire happened around 1 p.m. Monday at a home on Fortington Street.

Two bodies were found in the home after the fire was extinguished, OPP said in a news release. Police have not released their names pending notification of family members.

Police, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office as well as the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service are all investigating.

Police remained on scene Tuesday, and part of Fortington Street remained closed. Detours were in place.

"It's a scary for a quiet area. Ninety per cent of the people on this street are retired," said neighbor Keith Richard.

Richard said he was home at around 1 p.m. when he started to hear sirens.

"I came out to my truck and I was going to go downtown, then all of a sudden there was a fire truck, police cars, there was smoke coming out of the basement. They were trying to get in, there was half a dozen firemen," said Richard.

On Friday, the OPP identified the two people found dead in the home - Lisa Marie Hartwick, 41, and Gregory James Bennett, 44.

Police say while the fire is suspicious, "there is no concern for public safety."

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Renfrew OPP Detachment at 613-432-3211.