Woman, two children, pulled from house fire on Terrigal St in Chadstone

An explosion was heard as flames ripped through a Chadstone home, leaving a 37-year-old mother critically injured and her two primary school-aged daughters hospitalised with severe burns.

A gas cylinder exploded inside a suburban home as it went up in flames in a suspicious house fire that left a mother and her two young girls fighting for their lives.

Arson squad investigators were on Thursday afternoon trying to piece together how the Terrigal St home in Chadstone burst into flames about 9.30pm on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old mother and her two primary school-aged girls were miraculously pulled from the blaze suffering severe airway and skin burns.

The trio were found by firefighters unconscious and huddled together on the floor of the home’s master bedroom on the second storey.

A mother and her two children were trapped in the blaze. Picture: 7news

Police are treating the fire as suspicious. Picture: 7News

The girl’s mother was rushed to The Alfred while her two young girls were taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

On Thursday afternoon, the mother was still in a critical condition while the girls’ condition improved slightly and were both in a stable condition.

Detectives had earlier been seeking the whereabouts of the woman’s husband, who is the father to the girls, but have since made contact with him.

He was not at the home on Wednesday night but police have since confirmed that he is not a suspect.

Detectives believe a gas cylinder inside the home exploded as the fire took hold of the brick property.

Investigators are working to determine whether it caused the blaze or whether it exploded as a result.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious. Picture: David Crosling

Fire Rescue Victoria Commander Paul Eckholdt said the trio were minutes from death when firefighters, who battled 500C temperatures and virtually “zero visibility”, located them.

“The fire was burning fiercely on the ground floor and an explosion did also occur,” he said.

“It was very dangerous for the firefighters to walk into that house but they are well trained for these types of scenarios and they did an extremely good job getting those three people out quite quickly.

“We all have families, it was really quite traumatic for all involved.”

Firefighters at the scene on Thursday. Picture: David Crosling

Arson and explosives squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said the father was assisting investigators.

He said the man, 36, is not under arrest and is not a suspect.

He said the injured trio were lucky to be alive.

“They’ve been caught up in an instantaneous explosion and subsequent fire, it’s going to catch anyone by surprise,” he said.

“Its always a tragedy… it’s devastating.”

Local resident Tom Walter said the house went up in flames like a “fireball”.

“The smoke was filling up our house, we had to close all of the windows,” he said.

“It would have been horrifying to be stuck in there, it was definitely a bit of a shock.”

Aerial photographs show a huge hole in the roof with the inside reduced to rubble.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with CCTV/dashcam footage or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.