House destroyed in LPG heater fire

Leaking LPG created a fireball which blew the back door off its hinges. Picture / Dean Purcell

Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed this house on State Highway 16 near Kumeu yesterday.

A woman was taken to Middlemore Hospital with serious burns, and a pet dog died in the inferno.

The blaze started when a towel on top of an LPG heater caught alight. The woman tried to put out the flames but she was burned and had to drop the towel and flee.

The leaking LPG turned into a fireball which blew the back door off its hinges.