Fire suspicious, say police

Fire officers found a fuel container melted to the kitchen floor. Photo / Christine Cornege

A 78-year-old man is recovering in hospital with serious injuries after a mysterious fire gutted his Hamilton home.

Ross Windsor, 78, of Hillcrest, was yesterday recovering in Waikato Hospital with burns to 15 per cent of his body and damage to his lungs from smoke inhalation after firefighters pulled him from a blaze early on Monday morning that police say was suspicious.

The retired teacher and former principal's neighbour, Daphne Chan, told the Herald he was lucky to be alive.

Ms Chan was awakened by the windows from Mr Windsor's three-bedroom brick home breaking from the fire's heat, which she thought was someone was trying to break into her car.

Her partner, Luke Hogan, saw the fire blazing from Mr Windsor's lounge, but neither of them, despite their shouting, could wake him, nor could they get anywhere near the house.

"There was smoke everywhere and the flames were really coming out but we just couldn't get close," she said.

"The firefighters did a good job, though, they were pretty impressive."

Mr Windsor's son, Richard Windsor, told the Herald that despite a heart operation his father was active and only last year stopped playing business house cricket in Hamilton.

He had been living in his home since the mid-1980s, the past few years alone.

Richard Windsor said his father was in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit with burns down one side of his body, but he had no other apparent injuries.

"We've been talking to him about it but he's not able to recall anything," he said.

"It appears there was an accelerant used, it's not pleasant at all. It's been difficult ... it's not a nice thing to be dealing with."

Mr Windsor said his father would likely be moved to Middlemore Hospital's burns unit, where he expects him to make a full recovery.

Hamilton senior station fire officer Dave Jenkins said firefighters arrived at the house about 5.30am and found Mr Windsor near the end of his bed.

He regained consciousness when tended to by St John ambulance paramedics and was then taken to Waikato Hospital.

Mr Jenkins said an investigation found eight separate seats of fire - two in the lounge, one in the dining area, in the kitchen, in each bedroom and in the hallway.

A fuel container was discovered melted to the kitchen floor.

Police have called the fire suspicious despite no signs of forced entry or theft.

Waikato police communications manager Andrew McAlley said police were focusing on an arson inquiry but he could not reveal who they were looking for.

"Hopefully our inquiries will give us some indication of persons of interest that we would not wish to discuss in a public domain."