AN abandoned building has been destroyed in a suspicious fire at Toronto on Sunday.
Multiple firefighting crews, police and ambulance paramedics rushed to Victory Parade after reports a two-storey premises was well alight at about midday.
Police evacuated about 10 people from a nearby apartment block as a safety precaution as the fierce fire threatened to spread.
The affected road was closed while emergency services worked, and it's understood people were kept away from the scene due to asbestos in the burning building.
Five fire trucks, two HAZMAT crews, the on-duty commander and an aerial appliance - or cherry picker - were tasked by Fire and Rescue NSW to the scene.
The blaze was largely extinguished by about 2pm, but one crew remained combing the charred remains for any hotspots at 3.30pm.
The scene was handed over to police on Sunday afternoon and officers confirmed the cause of the fire was being treated as suspicious.
The Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said council workers would be required to clear debris from the roadway.
Electricity authorities were also tasked to the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing plumes of smoke drifting over Lake Macquarie as the fire raged on Sunday afternoon.
The building was described as going up in flames "really quickly".
The building was unoccupied at the time, and no one required treatment by paramedics.
A passing fire truck first spotted the flames and leapt into action, raising the alarm, as multiple triple zero calls for help came in from concerned members of the public.
As the police investigation continues, anyone with information has been urged to call Lake Macquarie police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
