Emergency services remain at the scene of a Dunedin house fire as investigators work to determine what caused the large blaze.
At about 6:40am on Friday morning, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) swarmed Phillips St in Kensington after multiple calls reporting the fire.
In an update on Friday morning, incident controller Pete Douglas said the home was "well ablaze" when the first fire crews arrived, and the fire had spread to two neighbouring properties.
"One of these has only minor exterior damage but the other has been extensively damaged outside with some lesser damage inside," he said.
"The occupants of the neighbouring houses were all evacuated safely."
Douglas said crews with breathing apparatus are now working systematically through the interior of the home where the fire was first reported, and also a neighbouring property – to make sure the fire is fully extinguished.
"One of these has only minor exterior damage but the other has been extensively damaged outside with some lesser damage inside."
Douglas said there is no confirmation of whether anyone was it the property at the property.
He added five fire trucks and the command unit remain at the scene, are firefighters are expected to be there for several hours.
"Cordons remain in place on the surrounding streets."
Sergeant Aaron Burgess said police remain at the scene too.
"The cause of the fire has not been determined, and police and FENZ are working to establish whether anyone may have been in the house at the time the fire began," he said.
"A police drone will be used to assist investigators at the scene."
South Rd, between Eglinton Rd and Princes St remains closed, along with King Edward St, between Wain St and the railway overbridge.
"Members of the public are asked to avoid the area."
