A father and daughter were killed early Sunday morning in a house fire in Burton, just outside of Oromocto, N.B.

"This is probably one of the worst fires we've seen in 25 years," said Jody Price, Oromocto's fire chief.

Price said the burning building on Highway 102 was first spotted by a passerby around 8 a.m. AT Sunday.

But by the time the fire department arrived, it was too late.

"We actually feel that the fire could possibly have been smouldering for quite some time," he said.

Price said the fire started in the 61-year-old woman's room. Her 88-year-old father also died.

"It was determined it was an accidental fire and it was smoking materials that caused the fire – cigarettes," Price said.

"The house sustained a fair amount of … heavy fire damage in the basement and a bedroom."

Price said there were fire alarms in the house, but believes the woman was overcome by smoke while she was sleeping.

He said it was a difficult day for everyone on the scene.

"We very quickly brought in our fire chaplain," he said, adding he cannot remember the last time two people were killed in a fire in the area.

The RCMP and the Provincial Fire Marshall are investigating.

The victims' names have not been released.