She will spend her 15th birthday today in hospital.

Her mother Michelle Smith yesterday thanked everyone who came to the family's aid when the bungalow at the back of the Bell St house caught fire.

She said neighbours and her son James had tried to fight the blaze with buckets and hoses before firefighters arrived.

"They were so good. James was just terrific, passing buckets through the window."

Ms Smith also praised emergency service workers and friends who lent support yesterday.

"I have got to thank everybody," she said.

The family, which includes 10 children ranging in age from four to 19 years, were alerted to the blaze when 17-year-old Tracey heard her sister's cries for help from the bungalow.

Tracey ran to the bungalow window and pulled Kaylah to safety.

Ms Smith yesterday said her daughter had lost almost everything in the fire, except for some items on the clothes-line.

"When you look at the room it's just black. All her clothes are gone," she said.

"When she comes home she'll come home to nothing.'

"It's (the bungalow's) probably destroyed, we'll have to pull it down and start anew."

Police from the arson squad in Melbourne yesterday examined the scene of the fire.

The fire is not considered suspicious.