Fire crews have been called to a fire at an apartment block at Islington.
5 fire trucks from Newcastle and Lambton were called to the 3 level complex on Beaumont Street at about 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning to find a large amount of smoke issuing from the building.
Residents from 8 units were evacuated and several are being assessed by paramedics for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters found the source of the blaze in a ground floor bin room and had the fire contained within 20 minutes.
Several units are being ventilated to allow residents to return.
A fire investigation team has been called in, with the fire being treated as suspicious.
