One person is dead and another critically injured after fire broke out in a Canterbury house overnight.

Fire and Emergency NZ was called to Dunford St, Rakaia, about 11.15pm Saturday. Trucks from Rakaia and Ashburton scrambled to the scene.

A police spokesman confirmed this morning that one person had died and another was critically injured in the blaze. The death will be referred to the coroner.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said there was a report persons were unaccounted for in the fire.

Crews arrived to find the home well ablaze, the spokesman said.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire and find the persons unaccounted for.

One crew remained on the scene this morning. A fire investigator will visit the scene later today, the spokesman said.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers business, breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.