A mother and daughter killed in a fire in Footscray this week had an "enormous" love for each other, according to their distraught family.

Tanya and Zoe Elizabeth Burmeister were squatting in the former Kinnears rope factory in Footscray when a blaze erupted at 11.30pm on Wednesday. The mother and daughter were killed, along with an unidentified male known as 'Bluey'.

Darren Patrick Clover, 52, is alleged to have lit the fire. He has been charged with three counts of murder, arson causing death and arson.

Sharren​ Jeffs said she was devastated to learn of the death of her daughter, Tanya, and beloved granddaughter, Zoe, in such tragic circumstances.