Mother and daughter, 6, die in Christchurch fire

Police have confirmed a mother and daughter were killed in a house fire in Christchurch early today.

The bodies of 38-year-old woman and her six-year-old daughter were in a house on Avalon St in the suburb of Richmond by firefighters about 12.45am today.

The Fire Service was called after a police patrol noticed flames coming from the house.

Ten minutes after the first fire, emergency services were called to a second burning house in Tancred St about a kilometre away and found a man inside.

He had suffered serious injuries and remains in a stable condition in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Harvey said this afternoon investigators were scouring the fire scenes, but it was too early to say what caused them or whether they were linked.

Mr Harvey said police were working with next-of-kin of those killed to notify all family.

"At this stage we are not able to release names or further details. The scene examination and area inquiries will be conducted today."

Mr Harvey said there were a number of people outside the Tancred St house and called for anyone who had witnessed either blaze to contact them.

- NZPA