Melbourne house fire claims the lives of four children
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A tragic house fire in Melbourne’s southwest has claimed the lives of four young children.
Musrah Osman, 10, brother Nadar, 3, and sisters Isan, 6 and Ileen, 1, all died after their Werribee home broke into flames in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Najm Osman, 45, his wife Khadjah, 38, and their son Ibrahim, 8, managed to escape the incident with non-life-threatening injuries.
The four children are being mourned by their devastated parents and shocked community.
By the time crews arrived, the house was too far engulfed in flames to be saved. Photo from ABC News.
Police reported that the fire broke out at the house on Mantello Drive in Werribee shortly after 1 am on Sunday.
First crews arrived at around 1:10 am, but the home was well and truly engulfed in flames by that time.
In a video taken by the neighbours, a wall of flames was shown engulfing the single-storey home.
Authorities later confirmed the house was deemed wholly destroyed.
Neighbours recalled waking up to Mr Osman screaming “save my children” and his frantic pleas for help as firefighters attempted to control the fire.
“The father was trying to smash the door, smash the windows, everything,” they said.
“He was bleeding all up his arms from trying to get in and was begging me for a jacket so he could get to his kids. He tried every single thing.”
Another neighbour said he and his family were woken by the fire and rose to see the property engulfed.
“It was the whole house, like a bonfire,” he remembered.
“The roof was collapsing; there were collapsing noises. The parents were shouting. They were not able to go in.”
Next door neighbour Geeta Deagan also recalled the children's mother Khadjah was distraught.
“She came to me and said, “They are not going to come back… my four kids died, I'm not a good mum, I'm not a good mum,” Ms Deagan said.
“I just gave her a hug… there was nothing she could do.”
According to neighbours, the Osmans were a quiet family, and their children were familiar faces on the street.
Photos from Daily Mail Australia.
“Situations like this, the community sort of do get together a little bit and try and help each other where they can, and that's a nice feeling, but it's still a devastating thing that's happened,” said one Robert Deagan.
Local police are now trying to piece together what caused the fire and where it started. They are unable to say whether it is being treated as suspicious at this stage.
Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria are working with various arson squad detectives on the investigation.
“This is in particular very tragic circumstances with four young children that have perished in the fire,” said CFA commander David Clancy.
Grieving locals continue to place flowers, candles, toys and various other tributes for the family outside the destroyed home, which is sealed off.
“RIP beautiful souls. You'll never be forgotten. Fly high,” a heartbreaking note on one of the cards read.
Families, close friends, acquaintances, and strangers have attended the home on Monday.
An online fundraiser is currently being collected for the affected family.
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