Fire crews responded to the fire at a single-storey house in Manapouri about 3.30am on Thursday. Photo: Southland App
An overnight fire has gutted a house in Manapouri and investigators are at the scene.
Crews responded to the fire at a single-storey house in View Street about 3.30am.
Police and Fire and Emergency are at the scene along with a fire investigator.
Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said it was unknown how many people were at the address when the fire started.
Police are working with Fire and emergency to account for them.
Police said the cause of the blaze was unexplained.
Neighbour Allan Biggs said he hoped the residents got out safe, but he did not know them.
"With the siren going off, eventually curiosity got the better of me and I got up and just surprised to see the house well alight across the road," Biggs said.
A few neighbours had gathered on the street and he could hear the fire crackling, he said.
"We do get the odd callout of a fire engine in the middle of the night, but it's usually a traffic accident or something like that, nothing like this before."