Hundreds of Sydney residents left in the cold dark after suspicious blaze guts restaurant

Over 200 people have been evacuated from a Sydney building after a suspicious fire in a restaurant on the ground floor.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at Rashay's Pizza on West Terrace at Bankstown just after 3am on Thursday, getting nearby residents out of the building before bringing the fire under control.

Over 200 people have been evacuated from a Sydney building after a suspicious fire in a restaurant on the ground floor. Photo: Supplied

Huge flames were bursting out of the building as emergency services rushed to evacuate between 200 and 300 people living in the six storeys above the restaurant.

"I could feel the heat from the upstairs," said resident Farras.

"I could smell the smoke and went up on the balcony and was surprised [to see] Rashay's on fire."

No injuries were reported, although one person was taken to hospital as a precaution, police said.

Police have cordoned off much of West Terrace as they investigate the cause of the blaze.

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