Fire guts house in central North Island

The rural fire service dampen down the remains of a house fire at Raurimu. Photo / John Chapman

A timber house on Raurimu Rd in the central North Island settlement has burned to the ground.

A witness said a woman in her 50s was outside the house, being tended to by Fire Service personnel.

"She was obviously in a state of shock."

The woman had been given an emergency blanket.

Up to eight fire crews fought the blaze, which broke out just after 10am.

A Fire Service spokesman said the single-storey house, close to the intersection of Raurimu Rd and State Highway 4, was well ablaze by the time firefighters arrived.

There is no word if anyone was in the house when the fire broke out or if anyone was injured.

The spokesman said a number of support vehicles including water tankers had been sent to the remote property.

Firefighters from Ohakune and Raetihi attended the blaze.