One dead in fatal house fire

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Police say the woman who died in a fire at a sleep-out in the Bay of Plenty was an 18-year-old local.

Neighbours were alerted to the blaze in Papamoa following an explosion around 11.15pm.

Firefighters and police were called to the property where the sleep-out building was well ablaze.

Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair of Tauranga Police said initial investigations had been completed and police were working with the woman's family to provide support.

Police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.

Bay of Plenty police released the woman's name this afternoon.

However, they later asked media not to publish the name to protect the identity of a person at the address who is subject to a protection order.