Painful photos show house fire grief
Written by admin on July 8, 2024
Heartbreaking photos have emerged from the horrific scene of an alleged house fire mass murder that left three children dead as grief and shock ripples out from the brutal event.
Floral tributes are banking up outside a Lalor Park house in Sydney’s west after the early Sunday morning blaze that took the lives of two boys aged 2 and 4 and a 10-month-old girl.
Homicide squad Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty has alleged the 28-year-old father intentionally kept police and neighbours out of the burning house while the kids were inside.
“At this stage it does appear the 28-year-old is responsible for multiple deaths of young lives that have been tragically taken away,” Superintendent Doherty told reporters on Sunday.
“We’re alleging the 28-year-old man took actions to prevent the young people inside being rescued.”
The man remains in hospital in an induced coma and under police guard.
No charges have been laid.
He is being treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries from the fire.
The incident is being investigated as a domestic violence, homicide incident.
Photos from the street on Monday morning show three candles next to a bouquet of flowers.
Superintendent Doherty said the man was “not adversely known” to police, nor is he before the court for any other matters.
“These types of matters are just devastating. These are tragic circumstances,” he said.
“These are really extraordinary circumstances. We hope the community comes together, galvanises and helps the family.
“There’s more good than bad in the world. Tragedy usually brings out the best in people.”
Four other children were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Their 29-year-old mother is also in hospital being treated for smoke inhalation.
She is not accused of any wrongdoing.
NSW Police Acting Superintendent Jason Pietruszka said the mother and the other children were expected to make a full recovery.
“It’s devastating, there’s no other word for it. It’s devastating for the community, the other kids who go to school with the children,” Superintendent Pietruszka said.
Neighbours and police were “quite heroic” trying to get into the house, he said.
The actions of a neighbour saved more lives from being lost, the Superintendent said.
Fire investigators, including an accelerant detecting dog, were at the scene on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to the home in Freeman St, Lalor Park about 1am on Sunday.
“Going to a house fire, you’re always expecting the worst, hoping it won’t be but this was confronting, absolute chaos,” NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said.
“They got in, commenced their firefighting operations, got in and did that search, got those two children out, handed them over to paramedics who then continued with that emergency medical treatment.”
He said crews faced “superheated” conditions, with the likely temperature in the home of between 600 and 700C while looking for the children.
“They can’t see … they’re getting through under extreme, superheated conditions while looking for those children,” Superintendent Dewberry said.
“There was heavy fire activity, the flames venting out through both front windows, getting up over the roof line.
“They got in under those fire conditions, started to knock down the fire and conducted a search under very extreme conditions.”
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