Three teenage boys are fighting for life as police probe a major house fire in Western Australia.
Emergency services were called to the blaze in the suburb of Mount Tarcoola at Geraldton just after 4pm on Thursday.
Callers reported smoke coming from the roof of the brick and tile house and eight fire crews arrived to find it fully engulfed, a Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said.
Three boys were found at the scene, while a fourth was at a nearby home.
Three of the boys - aged 12, 13 and 14 - sustained significant burns. They were flown to Perth Children's Hospital.
As of Friday afternoon, all three were in a critical condition, a hospital spokesman confirmed.
Western Australia Police Force Assistant Commissioner Tony Longhorn said young people, lighters and fire never mixed well.
"This is an example of (a) tragic outcome and hopefully the three kids are okay," he said on Friday.
The fourth boy, also aged 13, was taken to Geraldton Hospital for what police described as moderate burns and has since been discharged.
Firefighters contained the blaze by about 4.30pm on Thursda, and extinguished it by about 6pm.
Western Australia Police Force arson squad investigators are examining the scene.
