Young Sydney Girl Remains in Critical Condition After House Fire

A nine-year-old girl with autism is fighting for her life as she has suffered severe burns to 90 percent of her body after a fire engulfed her house on Saturday morning.

Miata Kbaba suffered burns to her face and body when the family’s home in Doonside in Sydney’s west went up in flames. She remains critical condition at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Miata’s father Justin Kbaba said he doesn’t know how the fire started. He said that after putting his kids to sleep, checking the windows of his family home were secured and switching off all the power points in the common areas, he went to bed exhausted.

Soon after, he was woken by his wife’s cries. “I woke up and there’s fire everywhere – at the entrance and we can’t get out, there’s no way for us get out of the house we just have to get to the window,” he said.

Mr Kbaba described the terrifying moment as smoke quickly filled his home. “We couldn’t see anyone, you couldn’t hear anything (else),” he said.

Mrs Kbaba immediately managed to help three of her children out through a window, but Miata remained inside screaming and both her parents rushed to her rescue.

Mr Kbaba grabbed for Miata inside the burning home and as soon as he found her, he dragged her to the front door. He was having trouble breathing so Mrs Kbaba returned inside the home to save Miata.

Thankfully, all of the family members were alive and they are now praying for Miata as she fights for her life in hospital.