The police say an armed man who hindered them and the Fire Service from putting out a house fire in the Kaimai Ranges is now in hospital.
The fire was at a house on Ruahihi Road about 4.30pm on Tuesday.
Acting Senior Sergeant Cameron Anderson says a man who lived at the property was taken away by the Armed Offenders Squad.
He is receiving treatment in Tauranga Hospital for burns to his hands and torso and lacerations to his wrists and throat.
Mr Anderson says the house is a pile of ashes and scene examinations will be conducted on Wednesday.
He says at this stage there is no indication that anybody was in the home when it burned.
