Lalor Park house fire: Heartbreaking moment mum of three kids killed in horror house fire returns home for the first time since the tragedy - as dad accused of starting the blaze fights for life in hospital
- Three children killed in house fire tragedy
- Fire allegedly lit by their father, Dean Heasman
- Mother visited scene of tragedy for first time
- READ MORE: Family of alleged house fire father break silence
A mother who lost three children in a horror house fire allegedly lit by her partner has returned to the scene of devastation for the first time.
Stacey Gammage, 29, was with her seven kids inside her home in Lalor Park, in Sydney's west, when her partner Dean Heasman, 28, allegedly set it ablaze shortly before 1am on Sunday and barricaded the family inside.
Two boys, aged two and six, were taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition but died from their injuries.
Once firefighters extinguished the flames, they also found the body of a five-month-old girl. Her body was removed from the property during forensic investigations on Sunday afternoon.
Ms Gammage, who was still wearing her hospital wristband, returned to the house for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
Police closed off the street for almost two hours to allow Ms Gammage to grieve privately.
The devastated mother was supported by family members and police as she read the legions of tributes and cards laid outside the home in the wake of the tragedy.
She returned to Westmead Hospital to maintain a bedside vigil for her four other surviving children, including a nine-year-old girl and her three brothers, aged four, seven and 11.
![Stacey Gammage returned to the house for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, with the street closed for almost two hours to allow her to grieve](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87104137-13615139-Stacey_Gammage_returned_to_the_house_for_the_first_time_on_Tuesd-a-49_1720529271072.jpg)
Stacey Gammage returned to the house for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, with the street closed for almost two hours to allow her to grieve
![Stacey Gammage, 29, was with her seven kids inside her home in Lalor Park, in Sydney 's west, when her partner Dean Heasman, 28, allegedly set it ablaze shortly before 1am on Sunday and barricaded the family inside (pictured: the couple together)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87104135-13615139-Stacey_Gammage_29_was_with_her_seven_kids_inside_her_home_in_Lal-a-50_1720529271073.jpg)
Stacey Gammage, 29, was with her seven kids inside her home in Lalor Park, in Sydney 's west, when her partner Dean Heasman, 28, allegedly set it ablaze shortly before 1am on Sunday and barricaded the family inside (pictured: the couple together)
It comes as NSW Police provided an update on the surviving four children on Tuesday, who are all in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, Heasman remains in Westmead Hospital under police guard in an induced coma. No charges have yet been laid.
'Inquiries under Strike Force Carrbridge continue,' the police statement read.
Heasman allegedly threw a pillow on fire at his partner, which was partly responsible for igniting the blaze, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Investigators are also probing whether Heasman allegedly used an accelerant after a second explosion engulfed the home in flames moments after he threw the fully alight pillow at his partner.
![Investigators are also probing whether Heasman allegedly used an accelerant after a second explosion engulfed the home in flames moments after he threw the fully alight pillow at his partner](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87055885-13615139-Investigators_are_also_probing_whether_Heasman_allegedly_used_an-a-51_1720529271074.jpg)
Investigators are also probing whether Heasman allegedly used an accelerant after a second explosion engulfed the home in flames moments after he threw the fully alight pillow at his partner
Daily Mail Australia previously spoke to Heasman's grandmother Neryle Heasman, 82, who said she had been estranged from him in recent years.
'I didn't have a lot to do with him since his father, my son also named Dean, passed away,' she said.
'On the odd occasion I saw him, I remember him being a nice child.'
Mrs Heasman, who is receiving home palliative care for terminal lung cancer and has six months to live, said she had not met her great-grandchildren.
'I have kept up with his family through photos on Facebook,' she said.
But she was stunned to discover he was at the centre of the police investigation into the deadly fire.
![Dying grandmother Neryle Heasman has spoken of her shock at finding out her grandson is accused of killing his three children in a horrific house fire.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87054703-13615139-Dying_grandmother_Neryle_Heasman_has_spoken_of_her_shock_at_find-a-52_1720529271074.jpg)
Dying grandmother Neryle Heasman has spoken of her shock at finding out her grandson is accused of killing his three children in a horrific house fire.
'Are you sure we're talking about the same Dean?' she asked Daily Mail Australia, and added: 'He is albino.'
The father-of-seven is understood to have no significant criminal history, but in 2017 did have a run in with the Australian Tax Office.
Then just 21, he pleaded guilty to making a false statement and was convicted, but avoided jail and instead was put on an 18-month good behaviour bond by the NSW Local Court - and was also ordered to pay back $2,809 to the ATO.
On Monday friends and members of the community arrived at the scene many leaving floral tributes, stuffed toys and candles.
![Neighbours and family friends left floral tributes for the three kids who died on Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87055901-13615139-Neighbours_and_family_friends_left_floral_tributes_for_the_three-a-53_1720529271075.jpg)
Neighbours and family friends left floral tributes for the three kids who died on Sunday
![Among evidence removed from the house were two water bottles containing a tea-like liquid](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87055989-13615139-Among_evidence_removed_from_the_house_were_two_water_bottles_con-a-54_1720529271080.jpg)
Among evidence removed from the house were two water bottles containing a tea-like liquid
The day before, detectives swarmed the home looking for clues on how the blaze began, and whether a fire accelerant had been used.
Among the evidence removed from the house were two water bottles with a tea-coloured liquid inside.
Police allege Heasman held the front door shut when emergency services arrived and shouted, 'Let me die here' as the children screamed for help inside.
Heasman is reported to have suffered burns to his skin and throat and the affects of smoke inhalation during the tragedy and is now in an induced coma as detectives wait to interview him.
Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia that all three front rooms of the home were quickly engulfed with flames, before power lines began to spark and snapped off the house.
Local resident Jarrod Hawkins, whose daughter was friends with one of the surviving children, was hailed a hero after rushing to the burning home and saving a nine-year-old girl and her three brothers, aged four, seven and 11.
![Emergency services, including at least 20 firefighters and six fire trucks, rushed to Freeman Street following reports a home was ablaze](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87055959-13615139-Emergency_services_including_at_least_20_firefighters_and_six_fi-a-55_1720529271088.jpg)
Emergency services, including at least 20 firefighters and six fire trucks, rushed to Freeman Street following reports a home was ablaze
![Dean Heasman, 28, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital under police guard](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87055957-13615139-Dean_Heasman_28_was_arrested_at_the_scene_and_taken_to_hospital_-a-56_1720529271092.jpg)
Dean Heasman, 28, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital under police guard
The eldest boy told his rescuers: 'Dad tried to kill me.'
Once Mr Hawkins left the burning home with four children, they were placed on the other side of the road before another neighbour Damien Dubois decided to move them away from the scene.
'I had the four kids and they were cold so we picked them up and took them into the back room of my place,' Mr Dubois told Daily Mail Australia.
'I was trying to console them. The two younger kids weren't saying anything so I picked them up and took them out of the way of all this trauma.
'They didn't need to watch it all.'
Mr Dubois recalled Heasman taking some of the children on quad bike rides around the local neighbourhood just a few weeks ago.
![Dean Heasman, 28, and Stacey Gammage, 29, are pictured together. Three of their seven died in the blaze](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/09/13/87055883-13615139-Dean_Heasman_28_and_Stacey_Gammage_29_are_pictured_together_Thre-a-57_1720529271093.jpg)
Dean Heasman, 28, and Stacey Gammage, 29, are pictured together. Three of their seven died in the blaze