Generous Victorians have banded together to support a Melbourne family left homeless after a devastating fire tore through their home, with strangers donating more than $100,000 as a father and his young son continue to fight for their lives.
Flames engulfed the back of the family’s house on Whitmore Place in Hillside, in Melbourne’s west, about 9.30pm on Tuesday night.
The horror blaze destroyed their home, but in the aftermath, the local community has stepped forward in remarkable ways to ease the family’s pain.
At the boy’s primary school, dozens of families have rushed to provide essentials – everything from slow cookers and toothbrushes to clothes, socks, and brand new school uniforms.
“It’s been amazing. There’s everything you could think of,” teacher Holly Evans said.
“Obviously it affects not just the family themselves but the wider school community which is very heartbreaking,” principal Henry Nicdao added.
Investigators believe the blaze began in the boys’ bedroom, with relatives saying an oil heater was to blame.
In a desperate bid to save his children, the father pulled them from a window, suffering severe burns and slicing an artery in his arm in the process.
His partner Rochelle managed to escape with their three-year-old daughter, Ava-Leigh.
“He put his life on the line to save his boys, save his family,” relative Quincy Jones said.
The family’s GoFundMe has already surpassed $100,000 in donations as strangers across Victoria show their compassion and support.
Rochelle suffered minor injuries and was discharged from hospital on Thursday.
But her partner James and their seven-year-old son Zayne remain in critical condition.
“Praying and hoping that James pulls through and Zayne pulls through as well,” Jones said.
“The main focus at the moment is just making sure they are alright.”
Zayne has been placed in ICU at the Royal Children’s Hospital with third-degree burns to his face, hands and feet, while James is also in intensive care.
“This young family has lost their home, their belongings, and their sense of safety all in a single night. Doctors have said it will be a long and painful road to recovery for all of them, both physically and emotionally,” James’ sister Laressa Turetahi said.
Neighbours have also spoken of the devastation.
Louise Sheehan told 7NEWS she woke to a knock from another neighbour warning her about the fire.
She said the family had only lived in the home for about two years.
“I just saw a lot of smoke … apparently it was all the way down the street,” she said.
“[They are a] good working class family. Really, really nice people.
“It’s devastating … you can rebuild a house, you can do everything but just personal belongings, what you’ve got in there, your whole life, it’s just gone in a second.”
Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed crews managed to bring the blaze under control within 30 minutes, though severe heat and smoke damage spread through the rest of the property.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Images: 7NEWS
