OTTAWA, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- An Ottawa man was charged with second-degree murder and arson after a high-rise apartment fire killed two people, authorities in the Canadian province said.
Police say Ali Issaky, 23, may face additional charges for the blaze which broke out about 4:30 a.m. Thursday in Ottawa's Alta Vista area, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday.
In addition to the deaths, two people were treated for smoke inhalation.
The 14-story building was home to hundreds of people, many of whom were senior citizens with mobility problems, police said.
"Evacuation was a large, large problem," fire service platoon Chief Lyle Fraser said.
About 100 firefighters spent about three hours putting out the fire.
The Ottawa Fire Service, Ontario Fire Marshal's Office and the Ottawa police arson section investigated the blaze, the CBC said.
