Gas Cylinder Explosion Leads to Tragic House Fire in Chadstone

A Devastating Incident

An exploding gas bottle is suspected to have caused a devastating townhouse fire in Chadstone, Melbourne, that has left a mother and her two young daughters fighting for their lives. The harrowing incident occurred around 10 PM on Wednesday evening, with emergency responders racing to the scene on Terrigal Street.

As the flames erupted and spread towards the roof, firefighters bravely forced their way into the burning structure and discovered the 37-year-old woman and her primary school-aged daughters unconscious in an upstairs bedroom. Despite their heroic efforts to rescue the trio, all three remained in critical condition in hospital on Thursday morning, suffering from severe burns.

Investigation Underway

In response to the alarming nature of the fire, Victoria Police established a crime scene at the home and called in an arson chemist for further investigation. Detective Inspector Chris Murray disclosed that the police are currently in contact with a fourth occupant of the home, a 36-year-old man, but clarified that he is not considered a suspect as he was not present during the fire.

According to Inspector Murray, “We believe it was a gas cylinder inside the house that caused the explosion.” However, he did not disclose details on why the authorities are treating the incident as suspicious, emphasizing the remarkable work of the firefighters who entered perilous conditions to save the family.

A Neighbourhood Response

Neighbors of the affected family described the alarming moments leading up to the fire. Witness Andrew Kapuduwa reported feeling his own house shake from what he described as “an explosion of some sort” just before they consciously saw the dark smoke. Rushing to the scene, he attempted to enter the flaming townhouse with his family but was met with intense heat, saying, “It was a huge fire. There were no cries for help or anything.”

Tom Walter, another neighbor, recounted how emergency sirens alerted him to the tragedy and saw “a large fireball” engulf the residence. The rapid response of emergency services involved over 30 firefighters and 11 firefighting vehicles. Commanders reported that crews faced difficult conditions, including high heat and “virtually zero visibility,” while searching for the unconscious victims.

Rescue and Medical Attention

Once located, the mother and her daughters were carried out and given immediate first aid before being transported to local hospitals. The woman was admitted to The Alfred hospital while her daughters were taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital. By Thursday afternoon, medical updates indicated that their conditions had stabilized.

Community Shock

Neighbors recounted that the family often kept to themselves but seemed content, recently celebrating family birthdays. Many in the community expressed shock and concern following the incident, with Kapuduwa acknowledging the emotional turmoil the revelation has caused within the neighborhood.

As investigators continued to gather evidence from the site, including retrieving bags of materials from the property, police urged anyone with video footage of the fire to reach out to Crime Stoppers as they work diligently to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this horrifying event.