Quebec provincial police say a woman and her two young children are dead after a fire in the small town of Cap-Chat in northern Quebec.
Police say the 37-year-old woman and her two one-year-old children were pronounced dead in hospital after the fire broke out in their home.
They say emergency services were called to the fire at about 4 a.m. Sunday.
Police spokeswoman Helene Nepton says a dozen neighbours were evacuated, none of whom were hurt.
The major crimes unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.
The head of the town's fire brigade said about 20 of his men were on site before dawn.
"We saw the building was under pressure, there was a lot of smoke in the inside and flames coming out the back,'' Carol Dugas said.
"We found a lifeless body and the two children after that.''
Dugas said the firefighters were shaken by the discovery and that psychological support was offered to them.
He said they didn't find any smoke detectors inside the building, which Dugas said is owned by the city.
The mayor of the town of 2,500 said he knew the victim "by sight.''
"We sometimes think these things only happen somewhere else,'' Judes Landry told The Canadian Press in a phone interview.
"It's always said when it happens in a small community like ours. Everyone knows each other.''
The SQ said autopsies are planned.