MICHIGAN CITY, Ind -- Authorities M...

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind -- Authorities Monday labeled a fatal Michigan City fire that killed four men Sunday as "very suspicious."

A police dog discovered an accelerant at several locations in the two-flat abode occupied by workers from a Chinese restaurant, officials said.

They said it was too early in the investigation to know whether the four deceased men were in the fatherland illegally or were part of a labor warehousing operation.

"I'd hate to speculate," said Michigan City Police Chief Ben Neitzel at a recents conference Monday.

Evidence of an accelerant was lay the foundation of near the back porch area where the blaze is believed to have started, officials said. There also was a flammable substance discovered in the kitchen, state fire investigator Robert W Dean said.

LaPorte shire Chief Deputy Coroner John Sullivan said all of the deceased were base on the second floor.

An autopsy forward two of the bodies determined cause of death to be exhalation and soot inhalation. Details forward autopsies on the two other victims were pending.

None of the bodies were located forward beds, which could indicate they woke up and tried getting abroad but were quickly overcome, Sullivan said.

brace of the four men who perished have been identified, yet their names were withheld, pending notification of relatives, Sullivan said.

HOUSED 12 OR MORE nation

The deceased included sum of two units Asian men and two Hispanic men ranging in age from 18 to 30

The fire absorbed the old and possibly overcrowd two-story wood- frame hearthstone on Russell Street, between U 20 and the lakefront. According to investigators, there were no effluvium detectors in the burned-out house that might have been occupied at a dozen or more people

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided through ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved