Father of child critically injured in Sydenham fire in Melbourne speaks

The father of one of the children critically injured in a Melbourne house fire has spoken, saying the kids “would have been petrified”.

A loud bang was heard at the same time a blaze broke out at 9.40pm on Sunday on Fergus Crt in Sydenham.

Three children, aged 21 months, three and five years old, were in the house at the time and were rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

On Monday, the father of the middle child spoke to 7NEWS outside the hospital, and said they were all “happy little kids”.

“They would have been petrified. I hope they didn’t feel anything to be honest,” the father said.

“Obviously they would have, but I just tell myself they didn’t.

“It shouldn’t have happened.”

The father said the eldest child, who he step-parented and considers his second child, may not survive.

He said the two older children did not have physical burns and were suffering from severe smoke inhalation.

The arson and explosives squad are investigating how the fire started and police are also trying to determine if the children were alone when it began.

Detective Acting Inspector Adam Henry said police have figured out that the fire started at the rear of the property and the children were in a different part of the house when the blaze took hold.

All three children were unconscious when they were discovered.

It is understood the family had only been residing at the house for a week.

Police said it was too early to confirm if the fire was suspicious or not.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.