Police investigate huffing incident after gas bottle explosion

One person had been taken to Middlemore Hospital from the Papakura police station for further treatment. Photo / File

Police are investigating a huffing incident in South Auckland after two people were hurt when a gas bottle exploded this evening.

Senior sergeant Duncan Hall said the pair had been with two other people at a Kerry Place address in Papakura when the explosion occurred about 8.20pm.

"It was a group of four people sniffing LPG and one of them has lit a cigarette," Mr Hall said.

Police were alerted to the incident when two members of the group turned up at the Papakura police station with burns, and another call regarding a fire in a shed at the Kerry Place property - about 2km away from the station - was made to 111.

The group of men and women who had been at the property were believed to be aged in their late teens and early 20s, Mr Hall said.

One person had been taken to Middlemore Hospital from the Papakura police station for further treatment.

"Local units are making further enquiries to see whether anyone will face any charges", Mr Hall said.

A Fire Service spokeswoman said when staff arrived at the Kerry Place address, the owner of the property had already extinguished the fire.