An elderly man who suffered superficial burns to his hands and face after his gas heater exploded, has been discharged from hospital.
Tauranga Fire Service senior station office Phil Price said two fire crews attended the incident about 8.30am last Friday at the Greerton property.
Mr Price said the man, 91, was down the back end of his house when he heard a "bang" and came down the hallway.
A smoke alarm alerted him to the fire which was in the lounge.
"He saw the gas heater was on fire and he then exited the house through the front door.
In the process he suffered some some superficial burns and singeing of his hair," Mr Price said.
The house was extensively smoke damaged but structurally sound "and not damaged by fire but by smoke".
A small fire was found around the heater and the lounge was badly scorched. They opened all the windows to ventilate the property.
The man was treated at the scene with oxygen and taken by St John ambulance to Tauranga Hospital.
He was discharged on Friday.