An investigation is underway after an early morning fire caused extensive damage to a Christchurch home.

Fire crews from Spreydon, Wigram and Ilam were called to the Rowley Avenue property in Hoon Hay at 3.50am on Monday.

No one was inside the house at the time.

Footage taken later in the morning showed blackened window openings, smoke damage beneath the eaves and badly charred cladding around the roof gable. A police vehicle remained outside the property.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and an investigator was sent to the scene to determine how it started.

A police spokesperson said officers were also at the property making inquiries.