Man critical after being rescued from burning house

A 41-year-old Taupo man is in a critical condition after being rescued from a burning house in Tauhara this morning.

A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being rescued from a burning house in Taupo this morning.

Firefighters called to the house in Tauhara - on the eastern side of Taupo - about 8.30am, found it burning fiercely and donned breathing apparatus to search the house and recover the man, a 41-year-old Taupo local.

He was taken to Taupo Hospital with severe burns and serious lacerations to his arms.

Because of the seriousness of his injuries, a rescue helicopter was called to transfer him to Waikato Hospital, where he is in a critical condition.

Specialist fire investigator Stuart Bootten said it had not yet been established what had caused the fire but reports chemicals might have been involved were incorrect.

A hazardous materials unit from Rotorua had been on standby.

About 80 per cent of the home's interior was destroyed, with only two rooms undamaged because the doors were closed. It sustained about 15 per cent structural damage.

Mr Bootten said there did not appear to have been any smoke alarms in the house - something he saw all too often.

"A smoke alarm would give early warning and would have prevented the serious injuries that were received.

"At this time of year, when you change your clock because of daylight saving, the Fire Service supports checking your smoke alarm and changing the batteries if required," he said.

"If you don't have a smoke alarm, this fire is a really good example of why you should have one.

"Change your clock, check your smoke alarm."

Fire investigators would remain at the house today to try and ascertain what caused the blaze.

- NZPA