Elderly man dies in Gisborne house fire

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An elderly man is dead after a house fire in Gisborne last night.

The Fire Service was called to the blaze on Childers Road in suburban Te Hapara about 10.30pm, Fire Service central communications shift manager Murray Dunbar said.

The 70-year-old man was found inside the house and it appeared he had become overwhelmed by smoke.

Mr Dunbar said the "small property fire" was extinguished and fire safety officers would investigate the cause.

Two fire appliances and eight firefighters were carrying out salvage and ventilation of the property this morning, he said.

- NZPA