The pall of black smoke from a house fire on Kaitoke River Rd east of Dannevirke could be seen across town just after noon Tuesday.
The home, believed to be relatively new, was destroyed by the blaze with appliances inside a smouldering, melted mess and the occupant left with nothing but what he was wearing.
"The whole house was involved when we got there, but fortunately the occupant wasn't at home," Dannevirke brigade fire chief Pete Sinclair said.
"We had the blaze under control quickly and then spent time hotspotting."
The home, a farm cottage is owned by the Mullins family.