Two children die after devastating house fire in Sydenham

Two children have died in hospital after a house fire in Melbourne’s north-west, while their brother continues to fight for life.

Victoria Police confirmed the two girls died surrounded by family in hospital on Wednesday morning, while their three-year-old brother remains in a critical condition.

Jayde Petalas with his son Kalais, 3 (back seat, right), and Izabel, 5.

Emergency services were called to a Fergus Court property in Sydenham shortly after 9.30pm on Sunday after reports of explosions on the suburban street.

Five-year-old Izabel, her brother, Kalais, and their 21-month-old sister Lyvia were pulled unconscious from the house and rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Detectives from the arson and explosives squad are investigating the fire, including what may have caused it and whether the children were home alone at the time of the blaze.

This investigation remains ongoing.

Flowers in front of the Sydenham house where the fire occurred on Thursday.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Kalais’ father, Jayde Petalas, told this masthead he was in shock after the news. He confirmed he was not at the hospital when the children died.

Petalas, who is anxiously waiting for his son to regain consciousness, said his preschooler son remains in a critical condition. Doctors were expected to try to wake Kalais from an induced coma on Thursday, he said.

“I just hope he’ll be okay,” Petalas said.

Petalas has expressed concern his son was being left alone with his siblings while the children’s mother, Shania Lee, went out.

Arson and explosives squad detectives investigate the deadly fire in Sydenham.Credit: Joe Armao

Petalas, Izabel’s former stepfather, said the five-year-old was funny, and you could “always get a laugh out of her over nothing”.

She loved cats, and once stood looking through a sliding door almost all day when Petalas’ cat had a litter.

“She was like in love with them, she just wanted to play with them all day,” Petalas said.

Petalas said Lee’s daughter Lyvia, who he did not get to spend much time with, had the bluest eyes and “caught your attention”. The 21-month-old was always content sitting quietly with her toys, he said.

Detective Acting Inspector Adam Henry, from the arson and explosives squad, said on Monday that arson chemists were still working on the cause of the blaze but believed it started at the rear of the house.

“At this stage, it’s too early to say whether the fire is suspicious or not, and it’s important we don’t pre-empt any possible outcomes or make any assumptions,” he said.

He was unable to clarify whether the children’s mother was at home with her children at the time of the fire.

It took 30 firefighters and 10 appliances, including a rescue and aerial unit, several hours to extinguish the blaze on Sunday. Police believe the fire may have burnt for up to 30 minutes before emergency services were able to rescue the siblings.

Residents in the quiet neighbourhood did not believe anyone was inside when the blaze broke out at the recently sold single-storey brick property.

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