Three children have been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a house fire in Melbourne’s north-west.
There were reports of a loud bang and a fire near Fergus Court in Sydenham about 9.40pm on Sunday.
Victoria police said three young children, believed to be aged five and under, had been rescued from a home and given immediate medical care. They were all taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
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The area was cordoned off and a crime scene established, with arson and explosives squad detectives to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.
The Royal Children’s hospital said all three children were in a critical condition on Monday morning.
Detectives and an arson chemist were due to attend the scene on Monday morning.
Police said no one else had been injured in the fire, with investigators working to determine if anyone else was present in the home at the time of the blaze or just before.
Fire Rescue Victoria was called to the Sydenham address just after 9.30pm on Sunday to find 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 spokesperson said in a statement.
“Crews wore breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze and conduct an internal search of the property.”
The three children were rescued by firefighters and given emergency care alongside paramedics before being taken to hospital.
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FRV said the properties either side of the house were not affected but would be checked for smoke damage.
Power and gas companies have been requested to attend the site.
Any witnesses or people with information are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
– with Australian Associated Press