Fire has caused extensive damage to a unit at Hamilton South.
Firefighters from Newcastle and Merewether were called to the 14 unit complex in Fowler Street at 4.10am on Friday to find a ground floor apartments on fire.
All the residents of the unit block self evacuated and no-one was injured.
It took about 20 minutes to extinguish the fire, which was contained to the unit - crews are still mopping up.
Police are treating the blaze as suspicious and have set up a crime scene.
