One person has died and over a 100 families have been left homeless following a fire at the George Goch informal settlement.

It is believed the blaze at the central Johannesburg settlement may have been caused by a hot stove left unattended.

Emergency Services' Nana Radebe says over 40 shacks were gutted.

"Our Disaster Management Services is on scene and trying to get assistance from another organisation," says Radebe.