One person has died after a house fire outside Burnham military camp's perimeter fencing, just outside of Christchurch.
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said they were called just after 2am on Wednesday, and the house was well ablaze when crews arrived.
Forty firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which was extinguished by mid-morning. Crews remained on the scene.
Hato Hone St John said paramedics treated four patients and took three to Christchurch Hospital.
One person was in a serious condition and two in a moderate condition.
Police and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) confirmed one person died. Officers were on-site, guarding the scene.
Burnham Camp Commandant Major Julie Richardson said they could not comment at this stage whether the burnt house was occupied by NZDF personnel.
While housing at Burnham Military Camp was owned by the NZDF, some was occupied by NZDF personnel and some was tenanted by non-NZDF personnel. Houses occupied by non-NZDF families were managed through commercial property managers.
"Our thoughts are with the whānau who have lost a family member, and all of those impacted by today's fire," Richardson said.
Support was being provided to all those affected, she said.
The cause of the fire was yet to be confirmed but police said inquiries were ongoing.
The aftermath of a house fire in Rangiora, Christchurch. Photo: Sally Murphy / RNZ
Firefighters have also extinguished a house fire in Rangiora, north of Christchurch, in Waimakariri District.
FENZ were called to the scene about 4am and found the property ablaze. The house was unoccupied at the time.
The blaze was under control, but firefighters were still working to fully extinguish the fire, FENZ said.
Police at the scene of a house fire in Rangiora, Christchurch. Photo: Sally Murphy / RNZ
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