People are being urged to check their smoke alarms following a fatal fire in Mangere Bridge

A 68-year-old man died in the house fire at the weekend - and authorities now say he didn't appear to have a working smoke alarm.

Neighbours raised the alarm instead, but by the time fire fighters got to the scene the house was engulfed in flames.

Fire and Emergency area manager Geoff Purcell says not having a smoke alarm is a silent killer.

He says without one, many people won't escape a blaze.