Fire victim in a stable condition

BayTrust Rescue Helicopter

A man remains in hospital with multiple burns after an incident in Murupara.

The 24-year-old Murupara man was burning rubbish using petrol on Monday afternoon when the petrol ignited, badly burning his hands, leg and torso.

The Rotorua-based BayTrust Rescue Helicopter was called to the man's aid about 3.30pm at a residential address.

BayTrust Rescue Helicopter pilot Todd Dunham said it appeared the man may have used petrol to get the fire going when the petrol blew back on him and ignited.

"St John paramedics had treated him, stabilised him and bandaged him before we arrived," he said. "He was lucky it [the fire] didn't burn his face."

Mr Dunham said the fire didn't appear to be a large one.

The man was driven to a nearby school field where the helicopter could land. Fire crews were there setting setting up a landing zone for the helicopter. He was flown to Waikato Hospital.

A Waikato Hospital spokeswoman said last night the man was in a stable condition.