Father of five Damon Howes dies remembered as ‘loving dad’ after tragic Maryborough house fire death

A “loving” father of five who ”put other people first” has tragically died in a house fire in central Victoria, with a toddler also fighting for life.

A father of five has been remembered as a “loving” dad who “always put other people first” after his tragic death at a house fire in central Victoria, with a toddler fighting for life in hospital.

Maryborough dad Damon Howes, 35, tragically died on Thursday after a blaze erupted at a home on Barr St about 11.40am.

In a fundraiser organised on Friday, Mr Howes was described as a car enthusiast and “loving father to all five of his beautiful kids”, a man who “loved having a joke”, and one who “always put other people first”.

Maryborough father Damon Howes, 35, died in a house fire on Barr St on February 13. Picture: Facebook

A two-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he remained in a critical condition.

The child had to be intubated because of breathing difficulties caused by smoke inhalation and was placed in a medically induced coma.

Two women, in their 30s and 60s, and a three-year-old child fled the house themselves and were also treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.

The fire, which is not being treated as suspicious, was contained to the single-storey house.

Its cause was unknown on Thursday afternoon and there were no people of interest in the police investigation.

Fire crews respond to the fatal blaze. Picture: Gianni Francis

A man died in the house fire. Picture: 7 NEWS

A child was flown to hospital after the blaze. Picture: 7 NEWS

A crime scene was established on Barr St in Maryborough. Picture: 7 NEWS

Val Dwyr, 86 came home to find the “tragic” scene just a few doors up from her home.

“I was watching what happened and there was a poor lady out the front who had evidently been told some bad news because she was sort of screaming hysterically,” she said.

Ms Dwyr also saw another woman “crying hysterically” as she was treated by paramedics.

Barr St resident Val Dwyr witnessed the grief of Mr How’s family after they learned of his death.

Bryan Halend, a neighbour two doors down, said he heard the kids yell, “Help, help, help,” before coming out to see emergency crews in the street.

Another nearby Maryborough resident said it was “shocking”.

“It’s tragic, you always feel like that when you hear about the little ones,” she said.