While police are still investigating the cause of the massive fire in Wolseley, reports from witnesses say two suspects were observed in the area shortly before the fire broke out.

“Obviously by the nature of the units that are investigating it, it’s suspicious in nature. But we don’t have enough to say that it’s arson yet. We are certainly pursuing all avenues of investigation,” said Const. Rob Carver.

Firefighters battled the fire at a new residential construction site, Saturday that forced people out of their homes.

Crews were on scene at the southwest corner of Maryland Street and Westminster Avenue around 3:45 a.m.

Police said, upon arrival, the construction site was fully engulfed.

“Huge fire, certainly one of the largest the city has seen in quite a few years,” said Carver.

The president of the firefighter’s union, Alex Forrest, said the fire spread immediately to three houses nearby.

Police said the fire had spread to the residence to the immediate south, and a residence to the immediate west in the 700 block of Westminster Street.

The occupants of the buildings self-evacuated before emergency personnel arrived. Police said they evacuated several houses on Dundurn Place as a precaution.

Six people, including two women inside the residence in the 100 block of Maryland Street, and four firefighters, were taken to hospital with injuries. Police said the victims are currently in stable condition.

Forrest said the firefighters sustained burns to the face and neck.

He said the ‘huge fire’ was burning so hot, it melted the bus shelter across the street. A church sign across the street also melted from the extreme heat.

There is no word yet on the cause of the fire. Police are pegging damages to cost around $4.5 million.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and that investigators will be looking at the possibility that the Chestnut Street fire may be connected because of the proximity of the two.

“It is very geographically close to the large fire on Maryland. It certainly occurred sort of within the same time frame,” said Carver. “So we have a confirmed arson, and a suspicious fire, both same area, similar times, investigators are obviously looking at what whether or not those fires are connected. But at this point we don’t have information that would allow us to say, conclusively, that they were connected.”

- With files from Michelle Gerwing