Shane and Sheldon Shorey’s Wellington crash memorial burns

Teddies, flowers and heartfelt messages left for the young Shorey boys after they were hit and killed in Wellington have caught fire.

The grieving mother of two children killed in an alleged hit and run has lashed out on social media after she was told her sons memorial was set on fire.

Shortly after noon on Friday, Fire and Rescue NSW received a call for help after the memorial set up for Shane, 7, and Sheldon Shorey, 6, became engulfed in flames on Warne Street.

Shane and Sheldon Shorey having their last Christmas lunch. Picture Facebook

“Fire and Rescue attended the fire but it had been extinguished by members of the public prior to our arrival,” a spokesman said.

As a mark of respect, the spokesman said candles had been burning at the memorial.

“There were no witnesses, it was more than likely an accident,” he said.

“I’m quite confident … we’re treating this as accidental.”

The fire was reported to police and a NSW Police Force spokeswoman said it was not being treated as suspicious.

The Shorey boys were killed after a Holden Commodore driven by 25-year-old Jacob Donn crashed into them, their mother Shayleen Frail and two other children on January 5.

Shayleen Frail is recovering. Picture: Bec Clarke/Facebook

Ms Frail is recovering in a Sydney hospital after she was placed in an induced coma and suffered a punctured lung and spinal injuries.

A 10-year-old boy injured in the crash also remains in hospital where he is being treated for a severe leg injury and burns. The nine-year-old boy injured in the crash has recovered and been reunited with his family.

After images of the crash memorial on fire began circulating on social media, many Wellington residents took to Facebook to voice outrage at what they believed was a deliberately lit blaze.

From her hospital bed in Sydney, the boys’ mother Shayleen Frail’s grief was compounded as she was told of the alleged cause of the blaze.

“I have just been informed that some gutless, heartless mongrel has set fire to my sons shrine,” Ms Frail wrote in a message posted on her mother Denise Frail’s Facebook page.

Shocked and horrified Wellington residents who believed the fire was deliberately lit voiced their fury online.

Grace Edmonstone said those believed to be responsible were “disgusting pigs”.

“How f****** low can they get,” Carissa Walsh posted.

Aleisha Hockins said “it’s so wrong on so many levels.”

Shane and Sheldon’s father Joseph Shorey at the memorial. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Joseph Shorey with his daughter Shanice Shorey at the memorial. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Christina Watson said it was so “freaking sad”.

“I didn’t think I could be shocked by anything in this town anymore but yes yet again, disgusted and amazed that someone could be so low,” she wrote.

Other residents said they believed it was possible no one started the fire.

“I think it may need to be considered with the sun shining through the glass on the candles, it may have lit with all the soft toys in there … it’s a hot day today and it wouldn’t take long for a spark to start.”

The Shorey boys father Joseph Shorey has returned to Emerald in Queensland.

Sheldon and Shane Shorey died after being hit by a car in Wellington.

Jacob Donn has been refused bail and is yet to enter pleas to a string of charges including dangerous driving causing death.

The tragedy has devastated the tightnit Wellington community and their mourning was made more difficult by revelations scammers were seeking to exploit the boys death.

Police on Friday confirmed they have launched an investigation into reports fake Facebook accounts had been created, pretending to be country music signer Jason Owen, who has previously donated funds to help the families of the crash victims.

“Fake Facebook accounts have subsequently been created under the name ‘Jason Owen’, which appeal for donations to bank accounts not connected with the legitimate fundraiser,” a police spokesman said.

“It is not known how many people have fallen victim to the scam and police are urging anyone who fears they may have been involved to come forward.”