One dead in house fire near Rotorua

One person is dead following a house fire near Rotorua last night.

Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus pulled the man, aged 38, from his house in Dickens St, Owhata, 8km northeast of Rotorua.

He was immediately handed over to ambulance staff but had since died, Fire Service northern communications shift manager Paul Radden said.

When fire fighters arrived at the house about 9.20pm the fire was well involved. A fire safety officer was investigating the cause of the fire this morning, Mr Radden said.

Rotorua police said there was nothing at this stage to suggest the fire was suspicious.

- NZPA