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A mother-of-seven is fighting for life after her husband allegedly set fire to their home in Melbourne's west while six children, including a baby, were inside.
Police allege 38-year-old Roland Griffiths ignited a flammable liquid, causing the Sutherland Street home in Albanvale to go up in flames before 5.20pm yesterday.
Neighbours told 9News it sounded like a bomb had gone off inside the property and they heard screams.
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Thick, black smoke billowed from the roof as fire engulfed the family home.
It is understood six children, including a nine-month-old baby, were home when the blaze broke out.
A 17-year-old girl and 36-year-old mother Kylie Griffiths – Mr Griffiths' wife – were inside and tried desperately to extinguish the flames.
"My husband was out the front … he heard a big pop and we saw a girl running down the street with her legs burnt," a resident told 9News.
Ms Griffiths suffered critical burns and was rushed to The Alfred hospital.
The teenager also sustained burns and was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital.
More than 25 firefighters battled the blaze, bringing it under control within 30 minutes.
"Firefighters arrived on scene within five minutes to find a single-storey house fully involved in the blaze," a Fire Rescue Victoria statement read.
"At this stage, the fire is being treated as suspicious and the incident has been handed over to Victoria Police to investigate."
Mr Griffiths suffered non-life-threatening injuries and remains at The Alfred hospital under police guard.
Police said all parties were known to each other and the exact circumstances are under investigation by the Arson and Explosive Squad.
Source: 9News
