Fatal fire at Invercargill flats 'not suspicious'

A blaze which killed a man at a block of flats in Invercargill does not appear to be suspicious, a Fire Service authority says.

Emergency services were called to the property in Tramway Way just after 1am today.

The body of a man was later discovered in one of the flats. He has not yet been named.

Fire Service Southland assistant area commander Deane Chalmers told the Otago Daily Times two fire investigators were working with police to establish the circumstances of the blaze which gutted two adjoining apartments.

Mr Chalmers said the fire was not believed to be suspicious.

"Not at this stage in time, without having any real cause of what the blaze has been."

The two apartments were part of a five-residence block, each with a downstairs garage and living quarters upstairs.

"Two of the middle flats were well involved when our guys arrived,'' Mr Chalmers said.

"On arrival it was reported that there was a possibility of people being trapped. Police also confirmed there was one person believed to be inside.''

Mr Chalmers could not comment on what caused the man's death, as that was in the hands of police.

The two flats involved had significant structural damage, while the other three flats had varying degrees of smoke damage and some fire damage, he said.

It was unclear if the building could be salvaged.

Residents were being looked after by Victim Support.