Sydenham fire: Harrowing update on children fighting for life after horror house blaze as one dad demands answers
The father of one of three children rescued from a burning house recalls the terrifying phone 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 pulled unconscious from the back of a house in Sydenham, Melbourne’s northwest, on Sunday night after neighbours raised the alarm.
Firefighters rescued the children one by one, before all three were taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Jayde Petalas, the father of three-year-old Kalais, to the hospital after receiving a call from the police.
Kalais and his one-year-old sister are in critical condition after suffering severe smoke inhalation, while five-year-old Izabelle is also in a coma fighting for her life.
“It was hard to watch, they were cold and alone,” Petalas told Nine News.
“They would have been petrified. I hope they didn’t feel anything, to be honest.
“Of course 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 was confronting to see the three young children in hospital
There are serious fears that Mr Petalas’ five-year-old stepdaughter, Izabelle, will not survive.
Police are still trying to determine what caused the fire and whether the children were home alone at the time.
The children and their mother Shania Lee moved into the building a week ago.
According to neighbors, the children were stuck for about half an hour.
“When I first came out, some of us heard screaming,” recalled one anonymous resident.
Adolf Kolaritsch added: ‘There were just explosions, and then fire shot into the air.
Another said it was heartbreaking to hear the children were ‘fighting for their lives’.
Before the flames engulfed the house, there was a loud bang followed by a series of explosions, raising fears that fireworks had started the fire.
However, Victoria Police’s Arson and Explosives Squad Acting Inspector Adam Henry said they had not found any evidence of this so far.
He also stressed that it is too early to say whether the fire is suspicious.
Mr Petalas is pictured with two of the children, Izabelle and Kalais, who were pulled unconscious from a house fire in Melbourne
All three children were found unconscious in a room at the front of the house after suffering from smoke inhalation, he said.
The fire is believed to have started at the rear of the house, which was completely engulfed in flames.
“At the time, the firefighters were not aware that anyone was in the building and we believe the family had only moved in a week earlier,” Inspector Henry said.
Inspector Henry said that police will speak to Mrs Lee in due course, but that at the moment she is with her children and that is where she needs to be.
“It is important that we do not rule out any possible outcomes or make 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 deployed arson and explosives experts to investigate what caused the fire
Forensic police were seen combing through rubble outside the home after arriving at the scene alongside fire investigators and Victoria Police’s arson squad
On Monday, forensic officers were seen combing through the rubble outside the home after arriving at the scene alongside fire investigators and Victoria Police’s arson squad.
Detectives have also searched the area for CCTV footage that they believe could help determine where the children’s caregivers were at the time of the fire.
Neighbors claimed that a car was parked under the home’s carport before the fire, but was not present when the house caught fire.
Police are trying to determine if anyone was out of the house when the fire broke out.
The crime scene remains cordoned off as police continue to search the house for clues.
On Monday morning, a dog was carried out of the backyard by a firefighter. He appeared unharmed and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later.
A dog was carried out of the backyard by a firefighter around 9:30 a.m. Monday. He appeared unharmed and is believed to have fled the fire and returned home later
Detectives are also canvassing the area for surveillance footage that they believe can help determine where the children’s caregivers were at the time of the fire.
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
According to Victoria Fire Department, they saw smoke and flames coming from the roof of the brick house.
“Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find a single-story brick home fully engulfed in flames,” an FRV spokesperson said in a statement.
‘The firefighters wore breathing apparatus to fight the fire and searched the interior of the building.’
According to Fire Rescue Victoria, the properties on either side of the house were not affected but are being checked for smoke damage.
Energy and gas companies were asked to come to the scene.