It is believed nobody was home when a Mangakino home went up in flames this morning.
There are two people who live at the Rimu St home and there were initially fears for their safety. The pair was classed as unaccounted for after the fire.
But police and Tauranga-based fire investigator Luke Burgess believe no-one was inside.
Mr Burgess said the cause was yet to be determined and he would be returning to the site tomorrow.
Four fire crews rushed to Mangakino after the alarm was raised on Rimu St at about 4.30am.
The 100sq m house was fully up in flames when they arrived and the two occupants were unaccounted for.
Fire Service communications centre shift manager Jaron Phillips said the fire had been contained and crews were working on getting inside the home.
Crews assisted from Tokoroa and Taupo to prevent the fire from spreading to a neighbour's garage and sleep out.
He was allowed to live there if he paid bills and did maintenance - but he didn't.