'Suspicious' fire burns metres from popular Sydney beach

Fire crews are battling a fire that is tearing through grassland just metres from one of Sydney’s most popular beaches this evening.

So far the blaze has burnt through 150 square metres of bushland at Dunningham Reserve at the northern end of Coogee Beach.

A number of locals called Triple Zero this afternoon after spotting the smoke, which could be seen from as far away as Sydney International Airport.

Fire crews say they have been called to five fires in the area in the past two weeks and police have confirmed that they are currently treating the blaze as suspicious.

No homes are currently under threat, with a north-easterly wind blowing the flames away from nearby apartment buildings.

Fire fighters are expected to continue fighting back the blaze into the night.