Police have established a crime scene after more than 100 people were evacuated and two firefighters injured following a fire at a vacant Newcastle hotel on Sunday.
About 5.30pm, emergency services were called to King Street, following reports of an explosion at an unoccupied licensed premises.
They arrived to find the building well alight; crews from Fire and Rescue NSW took several hours to extinguish the blaze.
More than 100 people from nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District have commenced investigations into the cause of the blaze.
Hunter Street remains closed between Auckland Street and Worth Place; local diversions are in place.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Newcastle Police on 4929 0999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online
Previous report:
Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said there were six trucks at the blaze at the CBD Hotel, on the block between King and Hunter streets.
The fire broke out just after 5.30pm.
It is unknown whether anyone was in the building at the time.
Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze as of 6pm.
Residents of the neighbouring Civic Square apartment block were evacuated to Civic Park.
Many told the Newcastle Herald that squatters had been living in the disused hotel for several months.
They said police and council officers had been called repeatedly to the property.
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