Elderly man dies in house fire | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

An elderly man is dead after a house fire in northern Hawke's Bay this morning.

Firefighters were called to the blaze just north of Wairoa before 1am and told somebody was in the house.

Crews from three fire engines and a tanker had the fire under control by about 2.40am, Fire Service central communications shift manager Tim Rees said.

A crew returned to the scene later this morning to dampen down hot spots after the fire flared up again.

Senior Sergeant Tony Bates of Wairoa police said the man in his 60s was yet to be formally identified.

Police and fire safety officers from Hastings would examine the scene today to establish the cause of the fire.

It was not believed to be suspicious at this stage.