The body of a man has been found after fire ripped through two homes at an Over 55s land lease community, 65km north of Melbourne.

Victoria Police said emergency services were called to Kingsgate Village following reports two residential units had become engulfed in flames just after 6am.

The man, 78, was killed when the fire took hold. His partner and two next door neighbours, whose house was also engulfed in the blaze, made it to safety with no serious injuries.

40 people were evacuated and taken to the community centre in the land lease community.

“My understanding is these people only moved in a few weeks ago. I’m sure it’s a tightknit community in here and a lot of people are in shock,” Benalla area Acting Inspector Jaymee Cutler said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and a crime scene has been established.

It took at least 20 fire trucks an hour to bring the inferno under control, with firefighters extinguishing the majority of the fire by 7.13am.

Kingsgate Village is a privately owned independent lifestyle village developed and operated by two families.