Just prior to midday today emergency service personnel were called to a report of a house fire at a Studholme Street address in Temuka. On arrival, attending staff noted smoke coming from the windows and a Police member entered the house after breaking in through the back door. He called out for any occupants but received no answer.
He went through to the bedroom area, which appeared to be the seat of the fire, but was forced back out by the heat and smoke.
Fire staff arrived and after putting the fire out, the body of the 56 year old woman was found in the bedroom. A Fire Safety Officer was called in and is currently investigating as to the cause of the fire.
The house is a single level dwelling and Senior Sergeant Mal Schwartfeger of the Timaru Police says that the fire is not being treated as suspicious.