A body has been found inside of a Nelson home gutted by fire on Wednesday morning.
Six fire crews tackled the blaze on Main Road, behind the Elim Christian Centre, in the suburb of Stoke from 4am.
While there were initially concerns for two occupants, one has since been located safe and well.
Nelson police sergeant Gus Carlsson says the owners of the home are a couple in their 70s.
Senior Sergeant Blair Hall says a formal identification process could take days, "given the severity of the fire".
Family of those who lived at the property have been informed.
Nearby preschools were advised to close for the day with thick smoke still hanging in the air. Stokes School, which neighbours the property, was been advised to keep children indoors.
Newshub.
