Man badly burnt in suspected P-lab fire

Police go through a decontamination shower after the suspected P-Lab fire. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A man was seriously injured yesterday in a Pakuranga house fire, caused by what authorities say was a P-lab explosion.

The injured man was taken to Middlemore Hospital for treatment.

Three fire trucks were called out to the site at Meadway in Sunnyhills shortly before lunch time.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said it appeared the fire was the result of a P-lab explosion.

Officers had to go through a decontamination shower afterwards, she said.

Fire safety officers and a hazardous substance adviser were investigating at the site last night.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Council says the number of insurance claims for property damaged by methamphetamine, or P, is increasing.

"Property losses from P labs are becoming more significant and insurers are becoming increasingly concerned about the extent of these losses," council spokesman Terry Jordan said.

He estimated methamphetamine damage cost the insurance industry $5 million to $10 million over the past 12 months.

A property must be thoroughly cleaned, or in some cases demolished, after a "cook-up", he said.

"Remedial work to clean the properties range from a property clean up by a specialist cleaning company for light contamination, through to the full replacement of wall and ceiling linings, drapes and carpets, where P lab activity has occurred on a regular basis.

"In the worst cases, houses that are totally contaminated may need to be demolished."

Mr Jordan also said some properties had caught fire after lab explosions.

Insurances companies covered the losses due to P contamination, but the onus was on the property owner to properly vet tenants and carry out regular inspections, he said.