Two people are dead after an early-morning fire at a duplex in Lower Sackville, N.S., RCMP say.

Police said a man, 58, and an 11-year-old girl died, and that an 18-year-old man was taken to a Halifax hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A 46-year-old woman was rescued by officers from a second-floor window at the duplex on Leaside Drive, said Cpl. Dal Hutchinson with Halifax District RCMP.

She has minor injuries.

"The quick action of our members in retrieving a ladder at a neighbouring property, they were able to go up and rescue this woman," said Hutchinson, who added the family dog was also taken to safety.

RCMP have not released the names of the man and child who died. (Emma Davie/CBC)

RCMP have not released the names of the people who died. Hutchinson said the man was pronounced dead at the scene and the 11 year old died on the way to the hospital.

"It is a very tragic time, and the family is going to require a lot of support from not only their friends and relatives but from the community as well," he said.

Fire contained to basement

Emergency crews were called to the scene at about 2:32 a.m.

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency say when they arrived there was heavy fire in the basement and the damage was already extensive.

The fire didn't migrate to the upper floors because the first crew that arrived was able to keep it contained in the basement, but smoke and heat rose to the upper levels of the duplex.

RCMP and fire officials are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Steve Craig, the municipal councillor for the area, stopped by the neighbourhood Saturday afternoon.

"It's terrible," he said. "My heart goes out to the families, I don't know who they are at this point… quite possibly I may know them. I'm really apprehensive as to what happens next."