Surry Hills: Four hospitalised, dozens evaucated as unit fire ‘destroys’ building

Four people have been hospitalised and dozens evacuated after a blaze tore through an inner Sydney unit block.

Four people have been hospitalised after a blaze tore through a Sydney unit block overnight.

The building on Crown St in Surry Hills was “well-alight” when emergency crews arrived at about 12.05am on Tuesday.

Crews were successful in extinguishing the fire but the unit block, home to more than 40 apartments, was destroyed.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire but the building was destroyed and four people taken to hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

About 30 residents were evacuated, with four treated by paramedics and taken to St Vincent’s Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for further assessment.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the fire started in a bedroom on the second floor, with crews able to extinguish it in about 30 minutes.

“Right on midnight we received numerous triple-0 calls to a fire in this complex on Crown Street,” he said.

“It’s a four-level apartment block, quite large (with) three wings, three levels above the street level of retail frontage.

“We had about 40 people evacuated out of 10 units in the fire-affected wing … 20 people assessed by ambulance paramedics for smoke inhalation or just observations.”

The building was heavily smoke-logged, he added.

The cause of the fire is not yet known as investigations continue.