The father of one of three children rescued from a burning house has recalled the harrowing call he received late at night as they fought for their lives in hospital.
Two girls, aged five and one, and a three-year-old boy were rescued unconscious from the back 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 taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Jayde Petalas, father of three-year-old Kalais, crashed to the hospital after receiving a call from the police.
Kalais and her one-year-old sister are in a critical condition after suffering severe smoke inhalation, while five-year-old Izabelle is also fighting for her life in a coma.
“It was hard to see them, they were cold, they were alone,” Petalas told Nine News.
“They would have been petrified. I hope they didn’t feel anything, to be honest.
“Obviously they would have done it, but I tell myself that they didn’t. It shouldn’t have happened. They are the best kids, so innocent.”
Father Jayde Petalas (pictured with one of the children) said it had been touching to see the three young children in hospital.
There are grave fears that Petalas’ five-year-old stepdaughter, Izabelle, may not survive.
Police are still trying to establish what caused the fire and whether the children were home alone at the time.
The children and their mother Shania Lee Moved into the property a week ago.
The children were trapped inside for about half an hour, according to neighbors.
“When I first came out, some of us heard screaming,” recalled one anonymous resident.
Adolf Kolaritsch added: ‘There were just explosions, that was all, and then fire shot into the air.
Another said it was heartbreaking to hear that children were “fighting for their lives.”
A loud bang heard before flames engulfed the house, followed by a series of further explosions, raised fears that fireworks may have played a role in sparking the blaze.
However, Acting Detective Inspector Adam Henry of Victoria Police’s arson and explosives squad said they had so far found no evidence of that.
He also stressed that it was too early to say whether the fire was suspicious.
Mr Petalas is pictured with two of his children, Izabelle and Kalais, who were rescued unconscious from a house fire in Melbourne.
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 gutted 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.
Detective Inspector Henry said police would speak to Ms Lee “in due course” but “at the moment she is with her children and that is where she needs to be”.
“It is important that we do not anticipate any possible outcomes or make any assumptions,” he said.
Neighbors said they heard explosions before and during the fire, which raged for half an hour while the children were inside.
Police have brought in arson and explosives experts to investigate what caused 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.
Forensic police were seen sifting through debris outside the home after joining fire investigators and the Victoria Police Arson Squad at the scene on Monday.
Detectives have also searched the area for CCTV footage which they believe could help determine where the children’s guardians were at the time of the fire.
Neighbors said a car was parked under the home’s garage before the fire, but it was not there when the house burst into flames.
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.
On Monday morning, a firefighter removed a dog from the backyard. It appeared unharmed and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later.
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.
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.
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Fire Rescue Victoria said they found smoke and flames coming from the brick roof of the house.
“Firefighters arrived on the scene within six minutes and found a single-storey brick home completely destroyed,” a FRV spokesman said in a statement.
‘Crews used breathing apparatus to fight the fire and conduct an internal search of the property.’
Fire Rescue Victoria said properties on either side of the house were not affected but would be checked for smoke damage.
Electricity and gas companies were called to the scene.
