Detectives are investigating whether three very young children who were seriously injured in a Melbourne house fire had been left home alone when the blaze broke out.
A five-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl remain in the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition after being rescued from the rear of the burning property by firefighters.
Neighbours are understood to have alerted firefighters about the blaze shortly before 9.30pm on Sunday, and emergency crews arrived at the scene. The house in Fergus Court, in the north-western suburb of Sydenham, just six minutes later.
They raised the alarm after reportedly hearing a loud bang before flames engulfed the house, followed by a series of further explosions, raising concerns that fireworks may have played a role in sparking the blaze.
But on Monday, Acting Detective Inspector Adam Henry of Victoria Police’s arson and explosives squad said they had so far found no evidence of that.
The three children were found unconscious from smoke inhalation in an area toward the front of the home, he said.
The fire is believed to have started at the back of the house. which was destroyed by fire.
“At the time (firefighters) were unaware that there was anyone inside the property and we understand the family had only moved in a week previously,” Inspector Henry said.
Three children are fighting for their lives after an inferno engulfed their Melbourne home, as police bring in arson and explosives experts.
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of the fire at the house in Fergus Court, in the north-west suburb of Sydenham, at around 9.30pm on Sunday.
Forensic police were seen sifting through debris outside the home after joining fire investigators and the Victoria Police Arson Squad at the scene.
‘Firefighters entered and located three children… all three were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and all remain in critical condition.’
Inspector Henry said it was not yet known how the fire started.
“We believe the fire started inside the property, not from outside or from the exterior,” he said.
‘I understand that neighbours have heard loud explosions, but there is nothing at this stage to indicate that the fire was caused by fireworks used by the children or anyone else in the area.’
Police believe the fire may have been brewing for up to 30 minutes before authorities were alerted.
The detective said there was nothing to indicate that anyone from outside had set fire to the house.
“We are still working to determine who else may have been on the property with the children at the time of the fire or if they were alone,” he said.
The children’s mother has not yet been formally interviewed by detectives.
“Police have already spoken briefly to the mother of the three children,” said Inspector Henry.
“However, she is understandably quite distraught by the incident and remains in hospital with her children.”
A firefighter pulled a dog from the backyard around 9:30 a.m. Monday. It appeared unharmed and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later.
Among those the police have already spoken to is one of the children’s biological parents.
“At this stage it is too early to say whether the fire is suspicious or not and it is important that we do not jump to any possible outcomes or make assumptions,” he said.
Detectives were seen canvassing the neighborhood for security cameras on Monday in hopes of getting a better idea of what happened and who was home at the time of the fire.
“We will speak to the mother in due course. She is with her children at the moment and that is where she belongs,” said Inspector Henry.
Police told reporters during a news conference Monday afternoon that detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the fire.
“We will be working tirelessly over the next few days to determine the cause of the fire,” Inspector Henry said.
Detectives are also searching the area for security cameras that they believe could help determine where the children’s guardians were at the time of the fire.
Forensic police were seen sifting through debris outside the home after joining fire investigators and the Victoria Police Arson Squad at the scene.
Neighbors said a car was parked under the house’s garage before the fire, but it was not there when the inferno engulfed the building.
Police are understood to be working to establish whether anyone in the house was gone at the time the fire broke out.
The crime scene remains cordoned off as police continue to search the interior of the home for clues.
A firefighter removed a dog from the backyard at around 9.30am on Monday.
He appeared unharmed and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later.
The dog was kept in a fire cabin, along with a children’s sofa, outside the property until council workers took it away.
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.