Six businesses destroyed by fire at Fairfield shopping strip

At least six businesses have been destroyed in a fire that broke out at a shopping strip in Fairfield, western Sydney, last night.

The blaze began in a variety shop on Ware Street about 9.40pm AEDT and spread to adjoining businesses.

Firefighters were called and spent hours working to extinguish the blaze, which was finally put about 2.30am AEDT. 

"There's lots of smoke, lots of firefighters doing their job," one witness told 9NEWS.

Firefighters believe no one was inside the shops at the time of the blaze, and will begin assessing the damage once the building is deemed safe.

The cause of the fire is not known.