Bayley, 8, yet to be told brother, twins didn’t survive home blaze

The sole surviving child of a ­family whose home was ­destroyed by fire was last night unaware her three siblings had died.

A Facebook picture shows twins Twins Matylda and Scarlett, left, with older sister Bayley and brother Blake. The twins and Blake were tragically killed in the blaze which engulfed their home (top left), gutting it (bottom left). Pictures: Facebook/Channel 9/ AAP

The sole surviving child of a ­family whose home was ­destroyed by fire was last night unaware her three siblings had died despite “heroic” attempts by neighbours to save them.

Bayley Atkins, 8, who is recovering from smoke inhalation with her mother Kara, 31, at John Hunter Hospital near Newcastle, NSW, had not been told her twin five-year-old sisters Matylda and Scarlett and brother Blake, 11, had perished, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The fire-damaged roof of the Singleton home. Picture: Darren Pateman/AAP

Neighbours who reported hearing screaming at 3.30am yesterday rushed to the Singleton home to find smoke billowing from it. Using garden hoses, they tried to break into the house and save the family.

Ms Atkins, who suffered burns to her back and forehead, passed Bayley through a window to a neighbour. She reportedly told the neighbour: “Take her, take her, I’ve got to get the rest.”

Unable to save the twins and Blake, she was eventually dragged through a window by neighbours.

Kara Atkins is recovering is hospital. Picture: Facebook

Flowers placed at the site of the fatal fire. Picture: Darren Pateman/AAP

Firefighters pulled Matylda and Scarlett from the house but they died at Singleton Hospital.

Blake’s body was later discovered by firefighters in the shell of the home.

Brock Forbes, 16, who used to play football in the street with Blake, watched as the roof of the house collapsed.

“I was in my room and just heard screaming and a smash. Then I looked out and there was thick smoke,” he said.

“I grabbed the hose and tried to put the fire out. I heard crackling and screaming.

“I was putting water everywhere, on to the roof before it fell off and almost hit the car.”

Neighbour Braden Rodgers tried to kick the door down of the burning house in Singleton where three children died. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Deanna Stolzenburg was one of the first people to arrive, pulling Ms Atkins and Bayley to safety with the help of fellow neighbour Matisse Maskey.

“I woke up to the house ­exploding and glass exploding and the house engulfed in flames, and then me and Matisse ran out the back to try and save them all,” she said.

“(Ms Atkins) was at the back window screaming for help and we went out the back and pulled them out.

“The window was open and Kara was passing her daughter out.

“We got the mother and daughter out and then the fire brigade and the police came.

“I feel helpless because I didn’t get them all out. There were three lives lost.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Joshua Turner said: “With the intensity of the fire … the neighbours and those that ­attended and tried to assist did a pretty incredible job.”

Smoke detectors were installed in the home and did react.