Hiroyuki Kikuchi released without charge following fatal Glen Waverley fire

The sole survivor of the Glen Waverley fire that killed his children and their mother has been interviewed and released without charge.

Hiroyuki Kikuchi the father of the three little girls killed in the Glen Waverley house fire.

The father of a young family who perished in a Glen Waverley house fire has been interviewed and released without charge.

Glen Waverley mum Kaoru Okano and her three young girls, aged 3, 5 and 7, were killed after a blaze tore through their Tulloch Grove home on January 10.

The Herald Sun can reveal detectives from the arson squad interviewed Hiroyuki Kikuchi, 50, on Friday after an extensive investigation of the scene.

“At this time no one has been charged and the investigation remains ongoing,” a police spokeswoman said on Saturday.

Detectives continue to probe the circumstances in which the suspicious fire started.

Mr Kikuchi has been under police guard at the Alfred hospital being treated for serious burns sustained in the blaze.

Ako and her two sisters, aged 3 and 5, died in the tragedy.

He was at home at the time of the tragedy but managed to escape.

After the early morning fire erupted about 1.40am, eyewitnesses said the dad-of-three appeared panicked and was trying to put out the flames, but did not tell bystanders his family was inside until firefighters arrived.

“It took about 10 to 15 minutes after we saw everything to understand his kids were upstairs,” neighbour Hanish Poonia said.

“He was in a panic and was trying to control the fire and because he was in a panic he was not able to communicate with us.

Kaoru Okano also died in the fire.

Hiroyuki Kikuchi.

“After the (fire) services got here, he started shouting ‘my kids, my kids, they are upstairs’.

“The firefighters went in… followed him inside the house.”

Heartbreaking details of the family’s final moments revealed they tried to shelter in an upstairs bathroom in their townhouse.

Emergency services sadly found their deceased bodies huddled together in the ensuite.

Mr Kikuchi is a restaurateur who runs Rolls Japanese Kitchen on Carlisle St in Balaclava.

The Herald Sun understands he stored flammable materials related to his business such as oils, chemicals and rubbish in the garage of his home.

A well-wisher lays flowers at a memorial outside the Glen Waverley home.

Heartbroken loved ones paid tribute to the family throughout the week.

Flowers, cards, toys and sweets were left outside the fire ravaged home, as neighbours and loved ones come to terms with the loss.

Kelly Vu broke down in tears as she spoke of the “beautiful souls taken too soon”.

“They were the most pleasant, peaceful family,” she said.

“The girls would come over to my house to play and if I was baking a cake I would always make sure they got some.

“They were the three most beautiful girls and so well mannered.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

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