Police have been investigating a suspicious fire which heavily damaged a house in Goodwood, between Palmerston and Waikouaiti, yesterday.
A scene guard was in place at the State Highway 1 house overnight and it is understood that CIB staff were at the property making forensic inquiries earlier today.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) fire investigator had been deployed yesterday to try to determine the cause of the blaze.
Fenz officials said the matter was viewed as suspicious, and acknowledged that it had been referred to police.
A police spokeswoman said police were notified about the fire at 1.20am on Friday, not long after firefighters were alerted, and she confirmed there was a scene guard over last night.
She could not confirm all details of the police investigation but said police were working with Fenz to determine the cause of the fire.
Six fire crews attended the fire, from about 1am on Friday, and firefighters, some wearing breathing apparatus, extinguished the blaze.
