Witnesses to the fire in Minden say it was a like an apocalyptic scene with clouds of billowing smoke and a sound of “a couple of explosions”.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Ainsworth Rd at 7.03pm, on Sunday.

Another person in the Minden area said he heard a massive explosion and there were big bits of ash falling accompanied by a terrible smell.

“It feels apocalyptic,” the person said.

“There are massive black flecks on our lawn.”

Speaking to SunLive this morning, a Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said firefighters left the scene after extinguishing a structure fire in Minden at 2am.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and “a fire investigator is on scene this morning”.

More than 10 crews and fire trucks attended the scene and worked to bring the “well involved fire” under control.

At the time of the fire, the spokesperson said there were vehicles in the garage along with several gas cylinders, making this a “third alarm level” incident.

Fire brigades from Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Ōmokoroa and Greerton attended the scene.

Hato Hone St John was notified of a fire incident at 7.13pm yesterday.

“One ambulance and one operations manager attended,” said a spokesperson.

“One patient, in a minor condition, was assessed and treated at the scene.”