A nine-year-old girl was killed in a house fire Monday night on the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation.

Fifteen people lived in the older wood-frame home on the reserve, about 50 kilometres north of Portage la Prairie, Man.

The band's chief, Russell Beaulieu, said the community is rallying around the stricken girl's family.

"We had 15 people living in there, and there was a tragic death," Beaulieu told CBC News.

"The head of the household was actually the head of the fire department, but an old wooden building like that, it didn't take more than 15 minutes for it to be engulfed in flames."

Beaulieu said police and the fire commissioner were investigating, but it is suspected the cause of the fire was a wood stove. The male head of the household was also taken to hospital, but the extent of his injuries was unknown, police said. It is believed he was injured returning to the home to save others.

The school at Sandy Bay was flying its flag at half-mast Tuesday.

Principal Elizabeth Richard said a memorial service will be held Wednesday at the school.

"She was a very talkative little girl," said Richard. "She was always happy she was always hugging other people and very polite ... just a really good student and a pleasant personality."

She said health care and social workers are helping people cope.

Richard said donations will be collected to help the 14 family members who survived the fire but lost their home and all their possessions.