Callouts to two South Island house fires

File Photo / NZ Herald

Firefighters in the South Island have been busy battling two house fires overnight - one in Westport and another in Christchurch.

In the first incident, crews were called to a house fire on Peel Street in Westport.

Fire Service Southern Communications spokesperson Rewai Grace said the house was "very well involved" in fire.

Initial reports there were people inside the house turned out not to be the case, so all occupants were accounted for.

Mr Grace said crews opted for a "defensive attack", as it was not worth putting lives at risk by entering the building as the building was "basically gutted".

He said there were also reports of live ammunition and LPG inside the house.

Fire Safety were called to the property as firefighers were unable to determine the cause of the fire.

Soon after crews were called to a block of three flats on Leyden St in the Christchurch suburb of Phillipstown.

Mr Grace said one of the flats was well ablaze when crews arrived.

The fire has been extinguished but a crew remains at the scene.

A police scene guard also remained at the scene overnight.

Fire Safety is investigating the blaze.

- Herald Online staff