A fire safety investigator is looking into the cause of a fire which tore through a Kawerau home early this morning.

Kawerau Fire Brigade was called to the fire on Tamarangi Drive about 5.20am.

Firefighters are still at the scene of a house fire in Kawerau this morning.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Jaron Phillips says fire crews are still at the scene and we have a fire investigator there as well.

'Initially it wasn't know if everyone had got out safely before the fire brigade arrived so a search of the house was carried out.

'An initial search was complete and there was no one found inside the house.”

It was later found that no one was home at the time of the fire.

Jaron says an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.

'Fire crews are expected to remain at the house for half the day while the investigation is undertaken.”