Marlene Galindo said she was woken by an explosion at about 2am on Saturday morning (May 29).

"I could see an orange light through the curtains and when I looked out and realised the car wasn't where it normally was I ran to tell [my husband] Johnathan," she said.

"The girls were frantic and I got my oldest to stay with the little ones while we went to see what was going on. It was just awful watching it burn, I was crying and in shock."

The Ford Fairmont station wagon had been fitted with an extra double seat at the rear costing $1500, and had a special car seat for the Galino's disabled daughter Alekksis.

Mr Galindo said he had spent about $1000 re-registering and doing work on the car just one week before the attack. The car was insured, but the Galindos are required to pay a $500 excess.

It's money they simply don't have.

"Alekksis has so many medical bills and requires constant care. We are just struggling to try and make ends meet every week and this has set us back about a year in terms of raising money for her treatment," Mr Galindo said.

"We've had to borrow a car for emergencies but it doesn't have the car seats Alekksis and our other girls need."

Mrs Galindo said she spoke to a fisherman who saw the flames from his boat.

"He said he saw four or five guys running up the road from the car," she said.

"There was a loud party up the street and some of them came down to see what was going on. One young guy claimed he knew who did it because someone had been acting suspicious. He said he was willing to testify but when the police arrived he chickened out."

Mr Galindo said there had been increasing incidents of crime in the Balcolyn area recently.

"Last year our car had its back window smashed, and a golf club was found nearby. Four other people we spoke to around our area had damage to their cars as well," he said.

"We just hope these people are caught and punished because they have caused a lot of damage in our lives.

"Now that you are sober, think about what you have done and come forward.

"You didn't just destroy our car, you did it in front of our house and scared our family. You have taken away the transport we need for our disabled daughter who could die any day."

Anyone with information on the incident should phone Toronto Police Station on 4950 3699.

¦ More on Alekksis' struggle: Page 5.