Body found after house fire at Reporoa

Emergency services found a body after a house fire last night in Reporoa, between Rotorua and Taupo, Rotorua police say.

The body had not yet been identified but it was known that an 87-year-old man lived alone in the Settlers Rd cottage and his next-of-kin had been contacted, Senior Sergeant Dave Donaldson said early today.

A passing truck driver had noticed the small farm cottage on fire about 9.20pm. He had stopped to investigate and found the house fully ablaze and starting to crumble.

"At the peak of the blaze the temperatures in this inferno were estimated at 1000degC," Mr Donaldson said.

Fire appliances from Rotorua, Kaingaroa and Taupo had gone to the scene and about 9.45pm a body had been found in the building near where a chip heater had been situated.

Nothing at this stage indicated the fire was suspicious but Rotorua CIB and a fire safety officer would inspect the scene today.

- NZPA