A man is in custody following a fatal house fire in Sydney’s west.
About 1am today (Sunday 7 July 2024), emergency services were called to Freeman Street, Lalor Park, following reports of a house fire.
On arrival of emergency services, one nine-year-old girl and three boys aged eleven, seven and six were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and taken to Westmead hospital in stable condition.
Two boys – aged two and four – were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition; however, they died a short time later.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the fire before a third child – believed to be a 10-month-old girl – was found deceased.
The three children are yet to be formally identified.
A 29-year-old woman has been taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Officers attached to Blacktown Police Area Command arrested 28-year-old man at the scene; he was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital under police guard.
Police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.