A person has died in an early morning house fire in central Edmonton.

Firefighters were called to the house at 124th Street and 121st Avenue around 4 a.m.

The body was discovered after crews were able to get inside.

Neighbour Vern Larson said there were two suites in the house. The woman who lives on the main floor was able to get out safely. The man who died was in the basement suite.

"There was a lot of smoke and there were flames and stuff like that shooting out of the bedroom window downstairs," Larson said. "Bright orange and they were shooting up over the fence."

A fire official says police are now handling the investigation.