Man burnt in Melbourne house fire

A man has suffered burns to his upper body in a north Melbourne house fire that is being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters responded to reports of an explosion and fire at the Thornbury property late on Saturday night and brought it under control within 25 minutes.

A male occupant of the weatherboard house suffered upper body burns and was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital.

Fire, smoke and heat damage to the house is estimated at $100,000.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade said in a statement that the fire had been deemed suspicious.