Treasured items lost in blaze

A house fire on Oxford St in Merivale destroyed a family's home. Photo / George Novak

A great-grandfather lost almost everything in a house fire but is thankful he and his great grand-daughter are alright.

The Tauranga family lost treasured photos, keepsakes, clothes and belongings in a fire which gutted their Merivale home about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon.

"My dad's photo, my family albums and my wife's photos are all gone," Robert Cooney said.

Mr Cooney went outside to play soccer with his 5-year-old great-granddaughter and was chatting to a neighbour when the fire began.

"I was talking [outside] and next minute I just heard a bang," Mr Cooney said.

He ran back towards the smoking house but did not get far as windows exploded before him.

"That's when I started to panic."

Mr Cooney and his great-granddaughter Sarah sat on the footpath nearby as they and their neighbours watched the Greerton firefighters dampen down the smouldering home.

"I've got my wallet and my money but I don't care about that, so long as this little one was out and we're safe," he said.

Sarah held on to him tight with tears in her eyes and said "that was my favourite house".

A nearby neighbour brought Mr Cooney a thick, mink blanket which she wrapped around him and gave Sarah a brand new barbie doll.

Neighbour Josie Morris said the fire happened "so fast".

"I closed up my windows thinking the neighbours were burning rubbish and then next thing we looked out and the windows exploded."

Mr Cooney said he was cooking chops on the stove before he was called outside.

Greerton station officer Steve Wright said about 90 per cent of the house had been destroyed.

"I don't think there's going to be a lot to save," Mr Wright said.

"When we arrived flames were coming out the front of the house and it was a fully involved house fire."

Mr Wright said the cause of the fire was yet to be determined but that it began in the kitchen.

He stressed the importance of never leaving cooking unattended.