Firefighters are still unsure of the cause of a fire at a Bethlehem home today.

They arrived to find the interior of the house on fire and two vehicles in the driveway, says Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Neil Brown.

Tauranga Fire Brigade Senior station officer Neil Brown says smoke alarms should be installed in all homes. Photos and Video: Andrew Campbell.

A search of the Bellfield Place found no one at home when the fire had started.

'We found a developing fire in the living area which also involved a 9kg gas heater, which was venting,” says Neil.

At this stage they can't say if the fire started with the gas heater. Fire safety officers will be investigating.

What concerns Neil is there were no smoke alarms in the house. The fire was called in by a neighbor over the back fence.

If the fire started at night, the occupants may have had no warning, says Neil.

'It's very important to have working smoke alarms. When you go to sleep at night you can't smell smoke.”

UPDATED 10.19AM: The upper level of a Tauranga home has been gutted after a house fire this morning.

Firefighters were called to a two storey property on Bellfield Place, in Bethlehem, just before 10am to find the house "well involved".

A reporter at the scene says the upper level, which appears to be the main living area, has been completely gutted.

"What looks like to be the lounge window is smashed out and other windows have been blackened by smoke and are cracking.

"The fire is out now, but there are still firefighters inside hosing things down."

Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Neil Brown says there were no smoke alarms in the house.

"If it happened at night time, the occupants would not have known and may not have been able to get out."

Neil says there was no one home when the fire took hold.

A fire safety investigator has been called to the scene to investigate the cause.

EARLIER:

Firefighters are dealing with a house fire in Bethlehem this morning.

A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says the upper level of the two storey building is completely engulfed in flames.

Firefighters are reported to be battling a house fire in Bethlehem this morning. File photo.

The fire is reported to be on Bellfield Place, off Townhead Crescent.

SunLive will bring you more information as soon as it is available.

At the scene?

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