'I hate myself for not being able to help': Mum of twins who died in a devastating fire after they locked themselves inside a burning house shares her 'unbearable pain' and guilt
- Twin sisters have died after they were pulled from a house fire at Batlow in NSW
- Three-year-old siblings Aisha and Lailani could not be saved from the huge blaze
- Their mother Tanyka Ford was locked out of the home and watched on in horror
- Police have launched Strike Force Edmondson to investigate the tragic inferno
- Both parents and surviving child will be interviewed by police in coming days
The devastated mother of twin three-year-old sisters who burned to death in a house fire says she is in 'unbearable pain' over failing to save them.
Aisha and Lailani died when flames engulfed their family's housing commission home in Batlow, in southern NSW, about 11am on Monday.
Their mother Tanyka Ford, 29, and five-year-old brother Dominic were forced to watch in horror as the blaze took hold.
Ms Ford said she 'hated herself' for being unable to save the toddlers after they deadbolted the door when she stepped outside to extinguish a flaming pillow.
Aisha and Lailani died when flames engulfed their family's housing commission home at Batlow, in southern New South Wales, about 11am on Monday
Their mother Tanyka Ford, 29, says she is in 'unbearable pain' over failing to save them
'I miss you more than words can describe right now I'm absolutely gutted and hate myself for not being able to help more,' she said.
'I don't know how I will ever be able to comprehend how this could have happened please let this be a terrible mistake please tell me my babies okay.'
Ms Ford was still in shock and disbelief that her children, who died from smoke inhalation while holding hands in the front room, were gone.
'Sadly as much as I pray nothing I say or do can bring back my babies,' she said.
'The pain is unbearable.'
The blaze began from a wood fire and by the time firefighters arrived and forced their way inside the home, it was too late to save Aisha and Lailani.
The girls (pictured with their older brother on Halloween) died from smoke inhalation while holding hands in the front room
The little girls (pictured as babies) 'spoke their own language' and couldn't respond to their mother as she tried to get them to unlock the door
Police on Tuesday confirmed they would be speaking to both Ms Ford and the girls' father Geoffrey Dubois in relation to the incident.
Riverina Police Commander Bob Noble said investigators had already met with Ms Ford on Monday night, who was 'distraught and traumatised'.
Special investigators also briefly spoke with Ms Ford's five-year-old son, who stood beside her on the footpath as their home burned.
'We'll have a more in-depth conversation if she's well enough with the mother today - there is the father of these children who we'll be speaking to, and neighbours,' Commander Noble said.
Fire and Rescue Superintendent Thomas Freedom said officers would keep 'an open mind' during the early days of the investigation and hope the little boy can provide crucial information.
Three-year-old twins Aisha and Lailani (pictured) were killed when their Batlow home caught fire on Tuesday morning
As the fire roared to four-metres high first responders tried desperately to rescue the girls, but could not force their way inside the home
Emergency services arrived and eventually forced their way inside the home, but it was too late to save Aisha and Lailani
'The mother and the young child that were here at the time will provide information that will be critical to investigators and that's our starting point but I assure you that won't be the end point,' he said.
'It's difficult for investigators to interview young children, particularly in an instance where that young child has lost two siblings.'
Commander Noble said: 'What we obviously have is two young children who have died. Obviously the mother of the children was present at the time of the fire, as was an older sibling.
'We need to approach this from an objective point of view and keep all possibilities on the table.'
Experts from the NSW State Crime Command arson squad have been at the scene and will be assisting local detectives in their investigation.
Police on Tuesday confirmed they would be speaking to both Ms Ford and the girls' father Geoffrey Dubois (pictured together) in relation to the incident
The death of the twins (pictured with relative) will be investigated by the police arson squad
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of either parents or any other family member.
The girl's aunt Tammy Dubois, 39, said her sister-in-law was screaming at the twins to unlock the door because 'there must have been something else burning in the front room', The Daily Telegraph reported.
'The girls couldn't speak, they had their own special language, they adored each other, they were found in the front room huddled holding each other's hand,' she said.
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Aisha and Lailani's shattered family have already raised more than $8,700 through a GoFundMe page for Ms Ford.
'My sister tragically lost her three-year-old twin daughters in a house fire, which claimed not only the lives of these two young children but also their home and belongings,' the twins' uncle Levi wrote.
'Her son has lost all the belongings including toys and clothing… Losing everything is hard enough without having to worry about financials.
'Anything no matter how small would be appreciated.'
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the family, while their nanna Michelle Ford posted this collage as a tribute to her granddaughters
The girls' mum and dad will both speak with police in the coming days about the ordeal
Ms Ford's heartbroken mother Michelle, who lived in the nearby town of Tumut, paid tribute to her grandchildren on Facebook on Monday night.
'RIP nanny's little angels, miss you so much,' Mrs Ford wrote.
Ms Ford's aunt Melanie said any donations would help the family, who lost everything in the fire.
'My niece Tanyka Ford lost her beautiful twins in a devastating house fire,' she wrote.
'If anyone can help out with a donation no matter how small it is. Words can't begin to describe her pain and loss right now.'
Adding to the difficulties for NSW Police investigators is the danger of entering the home, which is unstable as a result of the fire.
The little girls were trapped inside the home as it went up in flames, and could not be saved
Police said a small woodfire was understood to be burning inside the home at the time, but it was not known if it had caused the blaze (the house after the fire was extinguished pictured)
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