50 people evacuated as fire rips through Coogee apartment

A woman has been hospitalised with burns after fire gutted a Sydney unit. Up to 50 people were left standing on the street in the cold as fire crews battled to contain the blaze.

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A two-storey boarding house in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was gutted by a blaze that ripped through units as residents slept, leaving one woman in hospital with minor burns.

All 50 residents were successfully evacuated from the unit block on Dolphin Street, Coogee, after police were called amid reports of loud screaming and a fire at the complex.

About 50 residents were evacuated from neighbouring units after a fire broke out. Picture: Damian Hofman

One woman in her early 20s was taken to hospital with smoke-related issues as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.

Residents from surrounding units were also evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Residents gathered in the street wrapped in foil blankets at around 5.30am as firefighters worked to control the flames and local road closures were established.

The fire was brought under control but the street remains closed.

Police say the cause of the blaze will be investigated once the building has been declared safe.

Residents were forced onto the streets as they waited for fire crews to extinguish the blaze. Picture: Damian Hofman

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said they received a call at 5.08am and the fire was upgraded when crews saw large volumes of smoke coming from the property.

“On arrival crews found a two-level building with fire on both levels,” the spokesman said.

He said it is was a residential unit block and everyone was accounted for.

Nine fire trucks were on scene, including a ladder truck.

A woman was taken to hospital with burns and smoke inhalation injuries. Picture: Damian Hofman