BY IAN CROUCH
A mother and her 8-year-old daughter have been transferred to the John Hunter Hospital to receive further medical treatment following a tragic fire at Singleton.
The 31-year-old and her daughter are the only survivors of the blaze, which claimed the lives of her twin daughters, aged 5, and her 11-year-old son.
The mother is receiving treatment for burns, while her child receives further care for smoke inhalation.
The woman's husband, the father of the children, was away from home working at the time of the fire.
Neighbours rushed to help after hearing smoke detectors and breaking glass coming from the Brittliffe Close home just before 3:30am.
Fire Superintendent Josh Turner said fire crews arrived to find neighbours using hoses to attempt to control the blaze.
Firefighters attempted to enter the house through the front door but were forced to fight from outside due to the intensity of the heat.
After accessing the home through two bedroom windows and removing the 5-year-old girls, backup crews had to abandon internal operations at risk of the structure's collapse.
"I'd like to emphasise the heroic nature of the four residents in the nearby vicinity who tried to assist the people inside the house and importantly got the mother and 8-year-old daughter out," said Hunter Valley police Superintendent Chad Gillies.
He emphasised assistance is being offered to everyone involved with, and affected by, the incident.
"We're now working with our welfare management to manage the welfare of all the emergency service workers that were involved in today's tragic incident."
Fire Investigation research officers are now working with police to determine the cause of the fire.
Superintendent Turner said it's too early to tell how it happened but inquiries will consider the possibility that a fireplace at the home was in use at the time the fire began.
"In these winter months, heating appliances are quite prominent in fire causes," said Superintendent Turner.
The victims have since been identified, and a GoFundMe page has been started
to raise funds for the family.
EARLIER
Firefighters have found the body of a child in the burnt out remains of a family home at Singleton.
Neighbours heard screams coming from the Brittliffe Close home just before 3.30 this morning, with police arriving moments later, but they were pushed back by the intense heat as they tried to enter the house.
Firefighters managed to save two children, one aged 5 as the roof of the home started collapsing.
They were rushed to hospital in a critical condition but 2NUR-FM News understands they died a short time later.
An 8-year-old child and the children's mother were taken to Singleton Hospital in a stable condition.
The body of a 4th child was found by firefighters once the fire was extinguished.
EARLIER:
There's been a tragic house fire at Singleton.
Two children - one aged 5 have died in hospital after being rescued from the burning home in Brittliffe Close.
It's understood a third child aged 8 has also been rescued and taken to hospital. The child is reported to be conscious and breathing in a stable condition.
The children's mother has also been taken to hospital - she is also reported to be conscious and breathing in a stable condition.
There are reports a fourth child remains unaccounted for.
A rescue helicopter is also on the way.
EARLIER
A child remains unaccounted for as crews battle a house fire at Singleton.
Newcastle Fire Command say they were called to a single level home in Brittliffe Close at 3.26am on Wednesday, arriving to find the house fully involved in fire
Emergency services were told 3 children were trapped in the home - two have since been rescued.
One 5-year-old child has been taken to hospital, another is being treated at the scene while another remains unaccounted for.
Around 20 firefighters are battling the blaze and there are reports the roof has collapsed.
More to come.
