Grandfather escapes Merivale house fire

House fire in Merivale. Photo/George Novak

Tauranga firefighters are in Merivale following reports of a house fire.

A Northern Fire communications spokeswoman said the fire was in a house on Oxford St.

A reporter at the scene said a five-year-old girl had been playing with her grandfather outside the house when the ''windows just went bang''.

Smoke began to pour out of the house.

The grandfather said there had been chops cooking on the stove.

Three fire appliances are at the scene. Firefighters have managed to extinguish the fire and were still dampening down hot spots.