Three toddlers are fighting for their lives after an inferno engulfed their Melbourne home, as police bring in arson and explosives experts.
Emergency services were called to a home in Fergus Court in the northwestern suburb of Sydenham about 9.30pm on Sunday following reports of a house fire.
Firefighters entered the home to tackle the blaze and found three children, all believed to be aged five and under, who were treated at the scene by paramedics.
Three young children were rescued from the home before being provided immediate medical care and rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Neighbouring properties are being assessed for smoke damage however the fire didn’t spread.
An investigation has now been launched into the circumstances of the blaze.
Neighbours described what they believed to be explosions going off during the blaze, with explosives experts among the teams of investigators at the scene.
‘Detectives and an arson chemist will attend the scene this morning, ‘ said a police spokesman on Monday morning.
‘No one else was injured in the fire with investigators working to determine if anyone else was present in the home at the time or just prior to the fire.’
Forensic police were seen combing through debris outside the home after they joined fire investigators and Victoria Police’s Arson Squad at the scene.
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.
Neighbours have claimed a car had been parked under the home’s carport before the fire, but was not there when the inferno take grip of the building.
It is 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.
Neighbours claim the family had only recently moved into the property.
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.
The dog is being kept in a fire duty pod, along with a child’s couch, outside the property.
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 have been requested to attend the site.