HANGZHOU - A residential house fire that killed eight people in a town in East China's Zhejiang province may have been arson, according to an initial police investigation.

On Sunday, police of Wenling city said they suspected the fire, which happened on Saturday morning in Zeguo township, might have been started by someone.

Witnesses said that three houses caught fire and thick smog covered the site.

They said the houses were rented out for office use and accommodation by two shopkeepers of an online store, which sold women shoes.

A shopkeeper, surnamed Xu, died. Xu's wife, his parents and two children also died in the fire.

Five of the six deceased adults were migrant workers.

Another seriously injured person is receiving treatment in a local hospital, police said.

Police said local resident Li Faming, owner of the three houses, has been detained and is being investigated.