Residents have been evacuated from a Newcastle East unit block via ladder after several cars caught fire underneath the building.
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Firefighters were called to the Colliers Close property about 12pm Thursday and deployed dozens of firefighters to the scene after reports of thick black smoke billowing from the carpark beneath the building.
Nearby resident Kathy Williams said she heard two bangs followed by "lots of popping", which she believed was from the car tyres. She looked outside to see lots of smoke coming from the garage.
"I was worried about my mate in there," she said. "But they got him out."
Fire and Rescue NSW Newcastle duty commander Peter Curzi said that police were required to assist with the evacuation due to some "non-compliance". Newcastle Police Chief Inspector Shane Buggy said when officers arrived, people were self evacuating as required but they were required to "assist one woman from the unit".
The irregular shape of building required firefighters to get some people out via ladders.
"As a precaution we've evacuated approximately 50 persons from the unit block while we conduct our investigations and see if it's safe to re-occupy," he said.
"At this stage it looks to be contained to the immediate area around the vehicles that were involved.
"We've got two that are destroyed and two more that were severely damaged by heat and smoke."
Chief Inspector Buggy said police were working with the Department of Housing and their priority was to account for all the residents, with some doors in the building not answered when emergency services attended.
Firefighters will work with police to determine the cause and origin, Mr Curzi said, adding there was no immediate indication it was deliberately lit.
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