BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been taken to hospital and dozens of people have been evacuated after a unit fire at Hamilton South.

Firefighters were called to a apartment block on Fowler Street just after midnight on Friday morning to find a ground floor unit on fire.

Newcastle Fire Command says 40 people were evacuated as crews tackled the flames

A 56-year-old man was rescued from the unit and taken to the John Hunter Hospital suffering smoke inhalation. A female occupant was also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.


It took crews more than hour to fully extinguish the fire which caused damage to a bedroom and hallway.

Police say it’s believed a candle sparked the blaze.