A unit fire on Pittwater Road, Manly, opposite Harris Farm Markets has been extinguished. Police say a sweep of the apartment has found no one inside. They have not ruled out foul play.
A police helicopter searching the area nearby is unrelated and not tasked to any job, they said.
Witnesses describe hearing a sudden explosion from the unit before the fire became visible.
We understand the unit is known to emergency services, there is a complex history. The apartment complex is part of social housing and has been referenced in a number of police events.
Our current information is that no one was harmed in the fire but we will provide further updates in due course.
Inspector Ben Charmen from NSW Fire and Rescue said the fire started in the bottom apartment and quickly spread to the roof unit blocks causing multiple units to have their roofs collapse.
Trucks from Manly fire station aswell as Mosman, Willoughby and Lane Cove were called in to assist in extinguishing the fire. It is currently unknown whether the unit blocks are beyond repair.
