Fires not linked, say police

Police and fire officers have ruled out any connection between a Christchurch house fire early yesterday in which a woman and her daughter died and a second blaze in a house nearby 10 minutes later.

Emergency services were called to the first fire, in Avalon St, Richmond, about 12.45am.

The 38-year-old woman and her 6-year-old daughter were found dead inside. Police are treating the blaze as suspicious.

In the second fire, in Tancred St a kilometre away, a man suffered serious burns.