Fire ripped through a house in Ōpōtiki on Sunday night amid increased gang tensions in the eastern Bay of Plenty town.

Four fire trucks were called to a fire on Ford St just after 9pm.

The house was well alight when the crews arrived, fire and emergency shift manager Josh Pennefather says.

'It was a single storey residential house, about 10m by 15m - there were no reported injuries.”

The cause is now under investigation, and Pennefather says it's unknown at this time if it's suspicious or not.

The fire came just hours after police released the name of a man who was killed in the coastal town on Friday night.

Steven Rota Taiatini, 45, of Ōpōtiki, died after a disorder related incident shortly after 11pm.

Stuff understands Taiatina was the president of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians.

There have been reports of an increase in gang members in the town.

Police had expected to complete the scene examination on St John Street on Sunday evening.

A police spokesperson says initial enquiries suggested there were no weapons involved.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner says his investigation team would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of St John, Albert, or Richard streets, between 9.30pm on Friday and 12.30am on Saturday.

'We urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward and speak with us.

'Police will maintain a visible and increased presence in the Ōpōtiki area over the coming days,” he said.

In 2019, Ōpōtiki had the dubious honour of being the murder capital of New Zealand with 1.25 homicides per 1000 people recorded between 2004 and 2019 – the highest rate in the country.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or online via www.crimestoppers-nz.org, referencing file number 230610/2652.

Jo Lines-MacKenzie/Stuff.