Man charged over Sydney car fires

A man has been charged with setting fire to a vehicle in the basement car park of a Sydney unit block, forcing local residents to evacuate the building, including two who were treated for smoke inhalation.

Emergency services were called to the block on Hampden Road, Artarmon, just after 10pm on Friday after reports a car fire was filling the building with smoke. The car was destroyed, police say.

A 34-year-old man was arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station, and later charged with damaging property by fire.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Hornsby Local Court on January 31.