A teen suffered "significant injuries" and may lose his hands after an "incendiary" device went off at a home in southeast Calgary, according to paramedics.

Police responded the 0-100 block of Midridge Close S.E. in the community of Midnapore around 1 p.m. local time Monday afternoon, and initially described the incident as a mishap with a homemade firecracker.

Paramedics also responding to the home found an injured 17-year-old male with severe damage to both his hands, said EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux.

The teen was taken to Foothills hospital with injuries Brideaux described as "limb-threatening."

Brideaux said it was unclear to paramedics exactly what caused the injuries but described it as more of an "incendiary" device than a mere firecracker.

"That remains to be determined, if something of that nature (a firecracker) could cause injuries of this nature," he said. "It's more likely a much more powerful explosion that went off."

Police are investigating the incident, including the teen's intentions with the device.