A boy and his father are fighting for their lives in hospital after a fire ripped through a home in Melbourne's north-west overnight.
An oil heater is believed the be the source of a blaze which left four members of a family-of-five with serious burns in Hillside.
Firefighters arrived at the scene about 9.25pm to find the home engulfed in flames.
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The family, including three children, escaped their burning house as neighbours rushed to the scene to help.
James, 32, and his son Zayne, 7, remain in hospital in a critical conditon after suffering third-degree burns.
James is now in intensive care with burns across his body and deep cuts to his arms, according to a fundraiser set up for the family.
Zayne is also in intensive care with burns to his face, hands, and feet, where he remains in a critical condition.
James' partner Rochelle, 30, and their older son Izaiah, nine, suffered third-degree burns but are in a stable condition.
Their youngest child Ava-Leigh was not injured.
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The two adults were taken to The Alfred Hospital while the boys were taken to the Royal Children's Hospital.
A neighbour told 9News that James helped his children escape the burning home by smashing a window and pulling them out to safety one by one.
It took 40 minutes for firefighters to control the blaze.
James' sister Laressa Turetahi said the family have a "long and painful road to recovery".
"This young family has lost their home, their belongings, and their sense of safety all in a single night," Turetahi said.
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Fire crews remain on the scene.
It is not being treated as suspicious and it is believed a heater caused the blaze.
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