A dad has been busted for killing his entire family after the police initially mistook him for a hero trying to save his children from a burning car.

Ryan Howard Manoakeesick, 29, of Carman, Manitoba, Canada, was seen by police apparently trying to pull his three children from the burning vehicle on Sunday morning.

This was about two hours after the police had found the body of his common-law partner, named as Amanda Clearwater, 30, in a ditch about 45 miles from the scene.

At first, the police officers believed that Manoakeesick was a “witness”.

But he has since been accused of killing his and Amanda’s children Bethany, 6, Jayven, 4, and 2-month-old Isabella, as well as Myah Gratton, his 17-year-old niece, whose body was later discovered at home, according to local media.

Manoakeesick has since been charged with five counts of first-degree murder, according to the police.

Autopsies are currently being conducted on the victims.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said: “This is a dark time in Manitoba.”

And the Carman Mayor, Brent Owen, has called the killings “absolutely horrific”.

While Nancy Clearwater, Amanda’s mother, said she was “numb.”

And she added: “I don’t know what to feel, she loved those kids. She loved those kids more than anything in the world.

“She was a damn good mom.”