Car explosion: Brave bystander helps drag badly burned woman from vehicle in Te Atatu

Police at the scene of a car fire in Te Atatu this morning. Photo / Greg Bowker

A man helped drag a badly burned woman from a car after it exploded in West Auckland today.

Emergency services responded to the car fire in Te Atatu, Auckland.

One person was taken to hospital, St John said.

The police said that about 8.10am emergency services were called to an address in Te Atatu where a car was on fire in the driveway.

"We are working with the Fire Service to establish the cause of the fire and are not in a position to comment further at this early stage," said a police spokesperson.

An eyewitness who spoke to the Herald said there had been an explosion and a woman aged in her 50s was in the car.

Two men from a nearby work site tackled the blaze with fire extinguishers.

"I helped drag her away from the car," the eyewitness said.

The woman's skin was peeling off and wet towels were placed over her.