Police have confirmed an explosion at a Mount Maunganui house early this morning that left a 57-year-old with serious burns was caused by a P-lab in the basement of the property.

Residents of 12 houses surrounding the house on Ocean Beach Road were evacuated following the explosion at the house just before 4am.

A section of the road between Girven Road and Concord Avenue previously closed this morning is now open, but the house remains cordoned off while police and a specialist Clan Lab team investigate.

Firefighters rescued a 57-year-old Mount Maunganui man who suffered serious burns to his chest and face from the basement of the house where the P-lab was operating.

He was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition and was later airlifted to Waikato Hospital.

Police Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair says neighbours were woken around 4am to loud explosions

'Two men were located at the address, one was seriously injured and the other was uninjured.

'We have made inquiries we believe a clandestine laboratory was operating at the address.”

Karl says the explosion happened in the basement at the rear of the house.

'Most of the damage was contained in the basement, it was internal damage.”

Residents in surrounding properties on Ocean Beach Road and Paterson Road were evacuated as a result of toxic fumes from the chemical explosion.

Karl says the Auckland Clan Lab team are currently onsite and he is hoping for an indication on when those residents will be able to return to their homes this afternoon.

Rob Evison, who has lived on Ocean Beach Road for around 12 years, says he heard yelling just after 3.30am.

'I didn't hear any explosions. I heard some yeling.”

Rob says he hasn't noticed any unusual activity happening around the property and does not know who lives there.

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told SunLive while he was waiting at a beach access a few metres from his home when he was evacuated around 5am.

Firefighters from Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Greerton received the first calls to a house fire at 3.20am.

Tauranga Fire Brigade Station Officer Nigel Liddicoat says on-route firefighters were told there were further explosions.

'Upon arrival they weren't too sure what they were dealing with so they made entry as per usual.”

Nigel says the house was 'well involved” when firefighters arrived at the scene.

'One of the occupants had sustained some burns and doing a search of the house they found some chemicals.”

The Ocean Beach Road house where a P-lab exploded early today.

The 57-year-old Mount Maunganui man found in the basement was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition with burns to 30 per cent of his body.

'The person was transported to hospital and potentially contaminated the ambulance and hospital staff. The Hazmat Unit was sent to the hospital to carry out decontamination of those people,” says Nigel.

'Then it went down to the incident where it has decontaminated police who were also involved in the incident.”

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called and airlifted the man to Waikato Hospital where he has been admitted in a serious condition.

Nigel says police have gone back into the house 'to investigate basically a crime scene”.

'They will need decontamination from that as well.

'Our Hazmat Unit is down there with some crews to perform that when necessary.”

Police say another man was also at the address.

'A second man located at a nearby address who was helping police with their enquiries has been released,” say police.

Karl will not speculate on whether the injured man is known to police.

"We are still making inquiries."

Karl says the Auckland Clan Lab team will work to remove all of the chemicals from the property, which remains cordoned off.

"Any chemcials will be removed to a safe storage area."

Anyone who feels unwell should go to their local doctor or clinic.

Anyone with information about this incident, or about drugs, is asked to contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.