The father of seven children killed in a suburban Halifax house fire continues to fight for his life in hospital.

Ebraheim Barho was badly burned as he tried to rescue his family early yesterday morning.

The childrens' mother, Kawthat Barho, is expected to survive, but an imam says she is so distraught that she is repeating the name of her youngest child, four-month-old Abdullah.

The family fled Syria in 2017, first settling in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia before relocating to Halifax a few months ago to take advantage of language training and other immigrant services.

A GoFundMe campaign called "Halifax House Fire Tragedy'' had collected more than $300,000 by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Its goal is $1,000,000.