A two and three year old have been killed in horror East Geelong house fire

THE two young sisters killed when a fire began inside their Geelong East bedroom have been named. It’s believed the tragedy was caused by a toy which fell onto a heater as the girls slept.

TWO young sisters died yesterday after a toy fell onto a heater, causing smoke to fill the bedroom of their Geelong home.

The two girls, Sana, 3, and Saba Qorbani, 2, died after the fire broke out in the room while they were sleeping.

It is believed the girls’ father desperately pulled them out of the room after waking to the smell of smoke around 8am in their Loch St house.

The father rushed to the home of a neighbour, a doctor, for help before driving the girls to Geelong Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

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Tributes left at the scene of the tragedy. Picture: Alison Wynd

Two young children have perished in a house fire in Geelong East this morning. Picture: 9 News Melbourne.

The Geelong East home. Picture: 9 News Melbourne.

Det Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie. Picture: Alison Wynd

The couple’s six-month-old was uninjured as she was sleeping in a different room.

Neighbours said the parents had come to Australia from ­Afghanistan and worked in a local kebab shop.

Geelong Afghani community leader Moshtagh Heidari said the deaths had devastated local residents.

“The fire has not just devastated the family, it has devastated the entire community,” Mr Heidari said.

“We are doing what we can to offer support.”

Police said it was likely the girls died from smoke inhalation.

Investigators believe the heater in the girls’ room was turned on around 5am.

Geelong CIU detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie said the girls were sleeping in the front room of the East Geelong home when smoke filled the room.

A woman places flowers at the scene of the tragedy. Picture: Alison Wynd

A highchair is seen in the front yard of the East Geelong home. Picture: AAP/David Crosling

Police at the scene of the tragic house fire. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It looks like some sort of toy has fallen on a bar heater that was in the room and caused the smoke to billow into the room,” Sen-Sgt Guthrie said.

“It’s very early in the investigation, but it’s leaning towards a tragic accident.

“A tragic set of circumstances has occurred.

“We are not sure at this stage how long the fire has been smouldering in the room.”

Investigators were seen removing a portable electrical heater from the property and placing other unidentified objects in forensic bags.

Neighbours said the family had rented the home for a number of years.

Greg Allerton, who lives a few doors down, said: “It’s just a tragedy.

“The family must be absolutely heartbroken.

“When you hear about house fires you think of a great big fire, but this was silent.”

Another neighbour, Craig Meek, said he waved to the family on a daily basis but did not know them by name.

“We would always say hello,” Mr Meek said.

“There were often toys in the front yard.”

The arson squad is investigating, but the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

The house fire at this stage is believed to be a tragic accident, police say. Picture: Alison Wynd

The fire is believed to have started after a toy fell onto a bar heater inside the room. Picture: Alison Wynd

A bike is seen in the backyard of the Geelong East home where two young children died in a fire. Picture: 9 News Melbourne.

Fire investigators are also at the scene. Picture: 9 News Melbourne.

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