As well as townhouses and independent apartments, Bob Owens Retirement Village in Carmichael Rd provides rest home, hospital and specialist dementia care.
A Ryman Healthcare spokesperson said a smoke alarm had been triggered in the village’s rest home lounge.
“As soon as the village’s alarms sounded, residents were evacuated from the area as a precaution,” the spokesperson said.
“Fire and Emergency were called immediately and attended the site to investigate, subsequently extinguishing a small fire that was discovered in a wall cavity.
“No one was hurt by the fire or exposed to the smoke, and residents were safely returned to their rooms shortly after [Fire and Emergency] attended.”
Fire trucks came from Tauranga, Greerton and Mount Maunganui stations.
“It is believed the fire was started by a malfunctioning underfloor heating thermostat,” a Ryman spokesperson said.
“Electrical testing is being carried out throughout the village as a further precaution.”
