Two adults, 10-year-old boy dead after Hinchinbrook townhouse fire

As the victims of western Sydney home inferno are identified, neighbour tells how mother Vickie Le banged the grass and pleaded with emergency services.

Three people died following a house fire in Rottnest Ave, Hinchinbrook, Sydney's south west this morning. Picture: Monique Harmer

The victims of the fatal house fire in Hinchinbrook, which killed two adults and a ten-year-old boy on Sunday, have been identified by neighbours.

Nail salon owner Vickie Le, husband Ming Le, son Darren Le, Vickie’s mother, Ming’s mother and another women which neighbours believe to be a carer, were among the residents living in the Western Sydney home at the time of the blaze.

Darren Le, 10, was pulled from the burning home in Hinchinbrook by firefighters before paramedics performed CPR while rushing him to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where he died from his injuries.

Two women, aged in their 40s and 60s, died at the scene when firefighters arrived at the Rottnest Ave home about 5.40am on Sunday.

Neighbours believe the women in her 40s was a carer of Ming’s mother, who they say suffered from dementia.

Ming Le and his wife Vickie remain in hospital after the fire while their son, 10-year-old Darren Le, was killed in the blaze.

Ten-year-old Darren Le was pulled from the blaze by firefighters but died from his injuries.

Ming is fighting for his life at Concord Hospital while another woman in her 60s is in a stable condition.

Flowers have been left for victims of an inferno in Sydney's south west.

Three people died following a house fire in Rottnest Ave, Hinchinbrook, on Sunday morning. Picture: Monique Harmer

The home was completely gutted. Picture: Monique Harmer

Neighbour Rohit Prakash, who shares a wall with the now fire-destroyed home, was asleep at the time with his wife and daughters and was first on scene as he was met by his panicked neighbour.

“It just happened so quickly, the fire got very big,” he said.

Mr Prakash’s side of the duplex was not damaged by the fire and said he didn’t know why the flames first started.

Neighbour Rohit Prakash tried to enter get into the house during the fatal fire. Picture: John Feder

He said he attempted to climb his roof to assist with the rescue.

One neighbour, living across from the home, said the fire and rescue team took about fifteen minutes to arrive at the site.
Another neighbour, Natalie Borg said the first thing she saw when she walked out the front of her home was Ms Le banging on the grass and screaming outside the burning home.

‘SAVE MY SON’
“I cannot get the mother out of my head,” she said.

“She was on her knees bashing the ground saying save my son, save my son.”

Ms Borg said her husband and neighbour Roy, rushed through the melted garage door to help Ming, who she said had his face completely burnt.

Two people have died following a house fire in Rottnest Ave, Hinchinbrook, Sydney's South West this morning. Picture: Monique Harmer

Ming is in critical condition at Concord Hospital while another victim of the fire is in a stable condition. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The Hinchinbrook resident said the family had lived at the property for around six years, always having karaoke parties.

“They know how to throw a party, they were always singing karaoke,” she said.

“We call this street Ramsay Street because we are always helping each other,” said Ms Borg while also mentioning that the street had recently had a “bad run” with multiple residents passing away.

Ms Borg said she was pleased to see the family’s three Pomeranians were rescued.

Neighbours and friends of those residing in the Hinchinbrook property shared their condolences for those who died in the fire on Monday morning, laying flowers to pay their respects.

Sydney, Australia, Daily Telegraph, Sunday, 24 July 2022. Police pictured working at the scene of a fatal house fire in Rottnest Ave, Hinchinbrook, Sydney's south west this morning. Picture: Monique Harmer

A child’s bike lies outside the burnt out home on Tuesday. Picture: John Feder

One neighbour, who was fighting back tears, placed three rods of incense outside the property alongside four bouquets of white flowers that had been rest up against the remaining brick.

Two firefighters injured in the fatal Hinchinbrook inferno have been released from hospital while three residents remained under care on Monday morning.

Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Megan Stiffler said the firefighters were recovering and were in “good spirits” since being discharged.

She stressed the importance of households having a working smoke alarm, revealing at least 50 per cent of the 500 home fires attended by firefighters this winter did not have a functioning device.

“We cannot stress enough (that) to keep your family safe at night at home, a working smoke alarm is critical,” she told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday.

“House fires take hold so quickly. A working smoke alarm allows people to get out of that house as quickly as possible.”

Police work at the scene of a fatal house fire. Picture: Monique Harmer

On Sunday, authorities at the scene said the home had no smoke alarms installed on either floor and it was likely the flame broke out in the garage and was trapped by roller shutters before setting the staircase on fire — leaving the family stuck in the bedrooms upstairs.

A neighbour bravely tried to enter the building and quell the flame with a garden hose before emergency services ­arrived.

A resident on the street said they had prayed for the little boy to survive after hearing he was pulled out of the burning house that morning.

“We said hello to them. I remember there was a husband, wife and son – they were a young couple. They were really nice people,” she said.

A woman lays flowers at the scene of the fire on Sunday. Picture: Monique Harmer

The scene from next door. Picture: Monique Harmer

Two firefighters were also injured with one falling through a window from the home’s upper level and another suffering a minor electric shock.

FRNSW Dep Comm Stiffler said her crews were “devastated” after witnessing the three fatalities — taking the death toll from house fires to 13 since June 1 this year.

Last year, four people died from winter house fires and authorities blame this year’s rising death toll to a lack of working smoke alarms.

“We do everything in our power on the frontline to get out, talk to our community, make them understand,” Ms Stiffler said.

“Our people will be impacted. A three-person fatality is devastating and sits with us uneasily.”

Structural engineers have been called to the property out of fear the home will collapse.

An investigation into how the fire started is ongoing.
FRIENDS RALLY
Friends of the family have started a GoFundMe campaign and said Vickie and Minh’s mother had been discharged from hospital.

“Some of you might have heard about the fatal house fire in Hinchinbrook, Sydney recently...Unfortunately, that house belonged to our dear friend Minh and Vickie. Sadly, it took the life of their beloved 10 year old son Darren, Vickie’s mother and cousin,” organiser Katie Ho said.

Two women, aged in their 40s and 60s, who died at a house fire. Picture: Gofundme

10-year-old Darren Le was pulled from the blaze but died from his injuries. Picture: Gofundme

“Minh is still currently fighting for his life in ICU. Vickie and Minh’s mother have now been discharged, physically ok at this stage.

“We can’t imagine how heartbroken they are having to live this nightmare. Losing everything in a matter of hours. We want to help lessen the stress and burden for them as they now have three funerals to organise.”
To help, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/minh-vickie-fatal-house-fire-in-hinchinbrook