Cigarette may have caused Sydney hostel fire

Police believe a fire at a Sydney hostel this evening could have been caused by an unattended cigarette.

Two people were taken to hospital and the entire building was evacuated after fire broke out just before 6pm at the backpacker’s hostel on Parramatta Road, Concord.

One man suffered minor burns to his hands while a second man suffered smoke inhalation.

Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the fire, however a large part of the three-floor building was smoke-affected.

Several people have been relocated into emergency housing.

Police will continue their investigation into the cause of the fire.

Traffic on Parramatta Road was delayed but has since resumed.