Sydney man 'tried to kill neighbour' in fire

A man has been charged with intending to kill his neighbour after allegedly setting a Sydney unit on fire.

The ground floor Maroubra unit was completely engulfed in flames when emergency services arrived on the scene at around 5.45pm last night.

The 30-year-old allegedly tried to flee the scene but was arrested by police nearby.

A neighbour told 9NEWS a resident had poured lighter fluid throughout his own apartment and set it alight after an altercation with another tenant.

They also said the man had smashed the windows of his home and screamed, “I am going to burn this whole block down”.

The arrested man was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital to treat minor injuries.

Police and the bomb squad searched the unit today, seizing several items.

The man was charged with a string of offences including damaging building by fire with intent to murder, property damage and possession of unregistered firearms.

He was refused bail and is expected to appear in Waverley Local Court today.