Vic: Arson squad probes fire that kills three children = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2000
Vic: Arson squad probes fire that kills three children = 2

Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesman John Tindall said firefighters had to wait for
the intensity of the blaze to subside before they could enter the house, where they discovered
the youngsters.

He said it was believed one of the dead children might have been from another family
and was sleeping over.

"That's not confirmed but it makes it even more of a tragedy if it's affected more
than one family," Mr Tindall said.

It was believed two of the three children may have been sleeping in the loungeroom,
with the other in a bedroom.

He said the blaze was well alight when firefighters arrived at about 2am and found
the elderly woman and eight-year-old girl outside the house.

"They were very, very distressed," he said.

Mr Tindall said it was believed the elderly woman might be the grandmother of some
of the children.

It was not known if fire alarms were fitted in the house.

One neighbour said she awoke to find the house well ablaze and the woman and girl sobbing
outside.

"We opened the door and the fire had already started," she told ABC radio.

"We just didn't know. People were saying there were pets inside the house, kids inside
the house, we just didn't know.

"People were very distressed outside the house."

AAP gf/lw

KEYWORD: FIRE LEAD 2 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

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