The explosion broke windows in the house.

A Christchurch man was lucky to escape with only singed hair and cut hands when a camping stove exploded inside his house.

The explosion, which happened on Opawa's Hawford Rd about 10.30am on Monday, was strong enough to break windows in the man's house.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) spokesman said it appeared the explosion was caused by the man cooking on some sort of camping stove in the kitchen.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Police guard the Hawford Rd, Opawa property where there was an explosion on Monday morning.

Senior Sergeant Craig Johnson said police were working with FENZ to understand what happened.

The man sustained only minor injuries, including cuts to his hands and fingers and singed hair, Johnson said.

A scene guard was at the damaged house on Monday.