Man charged with starting fire and intimidation after Sydney blaze

A man has been charged with intimidation and damaging property after he allegedly set a Sydney unit on fire last night.

Firefighters were called to a three-story unit block on Elliot Street in Balmain at around 7.20pm were they found a ground-floor apartment on fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW officers evacuated 15 people from nearby units and some houses as a precaution while they extinguished the blaze, while one person was treated for minor burns.

Police arrested a 49-year-old man at the scene and took him to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with recklessly damaging property by fire and intimidation.

The man was refused bail and will appear in Central Local Court today.