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Police investigate after child dies in Alice Springs house fire

Authorities say the child was carried from the burning building but could not be revived. (ABC Alice Springs: Lee Robinson)

Northern Territory authorities say a young child has died in a house fire in Alice Springs.

Emergency services were called to the suburb of Larapinta soon after 10.30am on Thursday, having received reports a person was trapped inside the building.

Officers arrived to find the home engulfed in flames.

Detectives are examining the circumstances of the incident, along with fire investigators. (ABC Alice Springs: Lee Robinson)

Firefighters immediately entered the property, where they found the child unresponsive.

They attempted to revive the child through CPR, before the child was taken by St John Ambulance to Alice Springs Hospital.

Police said the child did not respond to medical intervention, and died soon after.

Detectives and fire investigators are examining the circumstances of the incident.

Victim identification underway

NT Fire and Rescue Service district officer Stephen Hunter said they were still working to formally identify the child.

"We can confirm the child was under the age of five, but that identification process is still ongoing," he said.

Mr Hunter said neighbours immediately alerted Triple-0 once the fire began, with firefighters arriving minutes after the first call was made.

He said crews found the child in the front half of the house, but were still investigating if anyone else was in the house at the time of the blaze.

"No charges have been laid around it. The details around it form part of the investigation," he said.

"There's no indication [that the child was left unattended] so far, but that might form part of it."

Distressing for first responders

St John Ambulance southern regional manager Michael Hadj said it was a highly stressful situation.

"Very much like other emergency services, we've got a very family-orientated organisation," he said.

"It's an event that we don't go to very often and we don't want to go.

"It's quite distressing for them."

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

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