The dad of one of the three children rescued from a burning home has recalled the harrowing late night call he received as they continue to fight for life in hospital.
Two girls, aged five and one, and a three-year-old boy were pulled unconscious from the rear of a property in Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west after neighbours raised the alarm on Sunday night.
Firefighters rescued the children one-by-one before all three were rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Police are now investigating whether they had been left home alone.
Jayde Petalas, who is father to three-year-old Kalais, dashed to the hospital after getting a call from police.
Kalais and his one-year-old sister are in critical conditions after suffering severe smoke inhalation, while five-year-old Izabelle is also fighting for life in a coma.
‘It was hard to see, they were cold, alone,’ Mr Petalas told Nine News.
‘They would have been petrified. I hope they didn’t feel anything to be honest.
‘Obviously they would have, I just tell myself they didn’t. It shouldn’t have happened. They’re the best little kids – so innocent.’
Father Jayde Petalas (pictured with one of the children) said it had been confronting to see the three young children in hospital
There are grave fears that Mr Petalas’ five-year-old stepdaughter Izabelle may not survive.
Police are still trying to establish what sparked the fire and whether the children were home alone at the time.
The kids and their mother Shania Lee moved into the property a week ago. Mr Petalas does not live at the home.
The children were trapped inside for about half an hour, according to neighbours.
‘When I first came out a few of us heard screaming,’ an unnamed resident recalled.
Adolf Kolaritsch added: ‘Just explosions, that’s all it was and then fire shooting out into the air.
Another said it was heartbreaking to hear that the children were ‘fighting for their lives’.
A loud bang heard before the flames engulfed the home, followed by a series of further explosions, sparked concerns fireworks may have played a role in triggering the blaze.
However, Victoria Police Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Acting Inspector Adam Henry said they had so far found no evidence of that.
He also stressed that was also too early to say if the fire was suspicious.
Mr Petalas is pictured with two of the children Izabelle and Kalais, who were pulled unconscious from a Melbourne house fire
All three of the children were found unconscious from smoke inhalation in an area towards the front of the home, he said.
‘This is an incredibly tragic incident, and one that certainly would have been very confronting for the first responders,’ Inspector Henry said.
The blaze is believed to have started at the rear of the home, which was gutted by the fire.
‘At the time (fire crews) were unaware that anyone was inside the property and it is our understanding that the family had only moved in a week earlier,’ Inspector Henry said.
Det Insp Henry said police will speak to Ms Lee ‘in due course’ but ‘at this time she is with her children and it’s where she needs to be’
‘It is important that we don’t pre-empt any possible outcomes or make any assumption,’ he said.
Neighbours said they heard explosions before and during the fire that raged for half an hour while the children were inside
Police have brought in arson and explosives experts to investigated what started the blaze
Forensic police were seen combing through debris outside the home after they joined fire investigators and Victoria Police’s Arson Squad at the scene
Forensic police were seen combing through debris outside the home after they joined fire investigators and Victoria Police’s arson squad at the scene on Monday.
Detectives also canvassed the area in search of CCTV they believe might help determine where the children’s guardians were at the time of the blaze.
Neighbours claimed a car had been parked under the home’s carport before the fire, but was not there when the home burst into flames.
It’s understood police are working to establish if anyone in the home had left around the time the blaze erupted.
The crime scene remains taped off as police continue to probe inside the house for clues.
A dog was carried out of the backyard by a firefighter on Monday morning. It appeared uninjured and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later.
A dog was carried out of the backyard by a firefighter about 9.30am on Monday. It appeared uninjured and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later
Detectives are also canvassing the area in search of CCTV they believe might help determine where the children’s guardians were at the time of the blaze
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Fire Rescue Victoria said they found smoke and flames billowing from the brick home’s roof.
‘Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find a single storey brick dwelling fully involved,’ an FRV spokesman said in a statement.
‘Crews wore breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze and conduct an internal search of the property.’
Fire Rescue Victoria said the properties either side of the house were not affected but would be checked for smoke damage.
Power and gas companies were requested to attend the site.
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