Hundreds of students evacuated after fire in uni building

About 220 Townsville university students have been evacuated after a blaze broke out at a residential building.

Paramedics assessed 14 students for smoke inhalation after the fire at the James Cook University campus, but none were taken to hospital.

The blaze caused moderate damage to one residential building. A second building was also evacuated.

The fire broke out shortly before 1am and was extinguished a short time later.

The university said it began in a room of the University Hall accommodation block, but it's too early to say what caused it.

Students who cannot return to their rooms will stay in other accommodation on campus.

"Staff will stay on the ground until every affected student has a place to stay and knows where they stand in regards to what's happening with their accommodation," the university's chief of staff Vanessa Cannon said.