Homicide inquiry launched after fatal house fire

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a fatal house fire in Northland early this morning.

One person died in the blaze and a man and a woman are missing following the fire, Whangarei area commander Inspector Paul Dimery said.

"We don't know if the body is male or female."

The NZ Fire Service's Northland assistant regional commander Allan Kerrisk said two adults and two children had escaped from the house and were being treated at the Bay of Islands Hospital for "relatively minor" injuries, including smoke inhalation.

The house - in Hukerenui in the rural area of Akerama, 18km south of Kawakawa - was completely destroyed by the time several fire crews in the region responded to a call at about 1am.

Smoke detectors in the house had woken the family, Commander Kerrisk said. Fire investigators were examining the scene.

- NZPA / HERALD ONLINE STAFF