Four treated after Sydney Westfield fire

Four people have been treated for minor smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a stairwell at the Westfield in Parramatta, resulting in hundreds of shoppers being evacuated from the mall.

Fire and Rescue NSW was notified about 1.40pm on Tuesday by an automatic alarm with smoke seen on two levels, a spokeswoman says.

About 250 people were forced out into the rainy streets while six firefighting crews were called out to the shopping centre.

Fire and Rescue later said in a tweet the fire had already been extinguished by staff members before firefighters arrived.

Four people were treated at the scene by paramedics.

Shoppers were able to return about an hour later once the area was ventilated and the smoke cleared.