Toaster behind Pyes Pa house fire

A toaster switched on by a rolling cupboard door pulled down on the lever is believed to have started a house fire in Tauranga this morning.

Fire shift commander Steve Smith said fire fighters were called to the Glenmonarch Place address about 10.47am where smoke had been seen and reported by neighbours.

Tauranga senior station officer Mark Keller said the house was unoccupied at the time and there was a fair bit of fire damage to the kitchen.

"They guys did a pretty good save of the house," he said with only smoke damage spreading to other rooms.

Fire fighters were still at the house waiting for power authorities to switch off the power.

"It appears to be a toaster pushed down by the roller door in the 'kitchen garage'," he said.

"I think there should be some sort of legislation about when you pull down the door it switches the power off inside the cupboard."

Mr Keller said it was a recurring cause of fires.