A three-year-old boy has died and his father has been seriously injured after a devastating house fire engulfed a family home in Werribee overnight.
Emergency services were called to a property on Newbury Street shortly after midnight on Monday following multiple Triple Zero reports of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found the single-storey brick home completely engulfed in flames.
The young victim, identified as Jordan Dashwood, was found dead inside the house after firefighters brought the blaze under control.
Jordan’s father, 40-year-old Jeremy Dashwood, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. According to reports, he attempted to re-enter the burning home by smashing a window in a desperate effort to rescue his son.
An 11-year-old boy, believed to be Jordan’s brother, managed to escape by jumping from a window. Other family members also made it out safely, with reports indicating that a neighbour helped several occupants escape by breaking through a gate.
Fire Rescue Victoria said approximately 40 firefighters responded to the incident, with the first crews arriving within three minutes of the initial emergency call. The fire was brought under control at around 1:13 am after more than an hour of firefighting efforts.
Victoria Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. While authorities have stated that the blaze is not currently being treated as suspicious, an arson chemist is expected to examine the scene as part of the investigation.
Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed that counselling and peer support services have been made available to firefighters and emergency personnel who attended the tragic incident.
The heartbreaking loss has deeply affected the Werribee community, as investigators continue working to determine how the fire began. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.