A scene examination has been completed into an early morning suspicious fire that left an elderly man in Waikato Hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.
Detective Sergeant Neville Ross of the Hamilton CIB said emergency services were called to a Hillcrest property about 5.30am.
"Firefighters arrived to find the house well ablaze, things could have been a lot worse but they located the elderly male occupant of the house lying at the foot of a bed in a bedroom of the house and managed to evacuate him safely to waiting ambulance officers.
"The 79-year-old is recovering in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and burns to, what we understand, is 15 per cent of his body."
Mr Ross said a five hour scene examination had identified eight seats of fire in the Mansel Ave home and the smouldering remains of a fuel container had been recovered.
"Forensic tests indicate an accelerant similar to petrol has been used to start the fires."
No signs of either forced entry or theft had been identified by investigators and enquiries are continuing.
# For media; Please note inquiry team currently offsite refurbing and currently unavailable for further comment.
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