16 CFA units from surrounding areas along with Police, SES and ambulance services were called to attend a house fire in Tyaak central Victoria on Saturday night at around 11.30 pm.
When emergency services arrived at the scene, the whole single storey structure was being ravaged by flames, with the incident listed as under control at 1.25 am, according to the CFA announcement.
The small locality, with a population of just 73 residents as per the 2016 Census, is situated around 95 km north of Melbourne, just off the Hume Freeway.
Authorities believe at least 13 people were staying at the holiday property for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, with at least 8 people, four adults and four children having been transferred to hospital, including at least two infants and a school-aged girl, as reported by the ABC.
Victoria Police said a six-year-old boy and a 33-year-old man died at the scene, while a 34-year-old man succumbed to his injuries while hospitalised.
CFA commander Charles Cleary said that numerous fire appliances and support vehicles were mobilised for the response, with “approximately an hour an a half ” needed “to get the fire under control”.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated by police, with a crime scene established.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.