MORE DETAILS: Strike force set up after fatal house fire

POLICE believe the human remains found after a house fire near Kyogle belonged to the male resident of the property.

FIRE INVESTIGATION: Police have confirned that human remains were found at the scene of a house fire at a Smith; s Creek property Photo: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

UPDATE, Monday, 2.10pm: POLICE investigating a fatal house fire near Kyogle have confirmed the human remains found inside the home are believed to those of the 64-year-old resident.

Emergency services were called to the rural property in Smiths Creek about 5.45pm on Sunday, August 16, following reports a property was well alight.

It took several hours to extinguish the blaze.

Officers from Richmond Police District attended and established a crime scene, where human remains were located inside the home.

"Investigations are continuing to formally identify the deceased, however police believe it to be the 64-year-old male occupant of the property," a NSW Police spokesperson said.

"Detectives from Richmond Police District - with assistance from the State Crime Command - have established Strike Force Kumulla to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cause of the blaze."

Police are currently treating the fire as suspicious.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

 

Original story: IT'S the discovery no first responder wants to make.

But last night police confirmed that human remains were found at the scene of a property which burned to the ground last Sunday evening.

The news comes after initial reports that two occupants of the property were believed to be missing.

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A senior NSW Police officer confirmed the tragic find and said identity of the deceased is still to be formally established.

"Officers from the Richmond Police District are investigating," he said.

"The remains are yet to be identified We are working with officers from the State Crime Command, Financial Crimes (Arson Unit) and Homicide."

The officer said that after a week of intense scrutiny, the property is no longer under police guard.

He said police were called to the incident in the late afternoon on August 16.

"Police were called to a rural property about 5.45pm last Sunday," he said.

"The property was fully alight and it took several hours for firefighters to contain the fire.

"The officers who attended the fire established a crime scene."

On Monday RPD Inspector David Vandergriend confirmed a residence on Smiths Creek Rd, Kyogle, was currently under police guard.

"Police were on scene last night to preserve the integrity of the evidence for examination today by detectives as we are still accounting for a couple of occupants," he said.

"On Sunday police established a crime scene at the property around 7pm."

Inspector Vandergriend said police were informed of a fire at the single-level timber property at 5.47pm on Sunday.

He said the Rural Fire Service also attended.

"If anyone has any information they can contact our detectives on 6662 0099 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000," he said.