A grief-stricken community is rallying together to remember three young children, including a 10-month-old baby, who were killed in a house fire in Sydney’s west.
A 28-year-old man is expected to be charged after the children — aged six, three and 10 months — were killed in the fire at Lalor Park on Sunday morning.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tributes flow for three children killed in Sydney house fire.
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Four other children — aged 11, nine, seven and four — and their mother are all in hospital but are expected to survive.
Neighbours and emergency services rushed to the fire about 1am on Sunday and rescued two boys, aged three and six, who were taken to hospital but died a short time later.
The body of a 10-month-old girl was found inside after firefighters extinguished the blaze.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said police were treating the matter as a “domestic-related multiple homicide”.
Alleged offender Dean Heasman, 28, is in a coma with significant injuries and is under police custody in hospital.
“We’re alleging this 28-year-old man did certain actions to prevent the rescue of those young lives that were lost,” he said.
“Those actions were (allegedly) intentional of keeping police and responders and neighbours out of the property while it was on fire, with the intention of keeping the kids inside.”
A floral tribute is growing at the scene, with witnesses telling 7NEWS of the horror.
“When I went out the front, three kids came out … so I went and got blankets and looked after the children,” a neighbour said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the “horrifying and senseless act” had outraged the entire state.
“These children deserved a loving home with safety and security and, instead, they’re gone,” Minns said.
“I can imagine the people of NSW feel enormous sorrow and deep sympathy with the surviving family members this morning, as we also show enormous care and gratitude to our emergency service workers.
“This is going to leave a deep wound on the state of NSW.”
Five trucks were on scene within 15 minutes but the well-developed fire made it difficult for firefighters to enter the home, Fire and Rescue NSW said.
A “heroic” neighbour who rushed in to help had saved further lives from being lost, police said.
The three deceased children are yet to be formally identified.
The four surviving children were treated by paramedics and taken to Westmead Hospital in stable condition.
Their injuries are not believed to be serious and officers plan to speak with the children, police said.
Police said the children’s mother, a 29-year-old woman, was also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Blacktown Police Area Command Acting Superintendent Jason Pietruszka alleged police efforts to enter the burning home were “frustrated by a male inside”.
Police arrested Heasman at the scene.
Pietruszka was unable to confirm reports he was armed while trying to stop others from entering the property, but said it would be probed as part of the investigation over coming days.
“He is not adversely known to police nor is he before the courts for any matter,” he said.
He was treated for smoke inhalation and taken under police guard to hospital, where he remains in an induced coma.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Homicide and arson squads and fire investigation teams are examining the scene.
A dog trained to detect accelerants would be used to help investigators determine what was used to start the blaze.
Investigations are continuing.
– With AAP
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Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.
