Suspicious fire destroys Melbourne unit

A number of people suffering from smoke inhalation have been evacuated from a block of flats in Melbourne after a suspicious fire.

A ground floor unit in Ascot Vale, northwest of the city, was well alight when firefighters arrived on Saturday afternoon, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade says.

Firefighters managed to quickly bring the fire under control and then evacuated a number of people from the block after they were found to be suffering from smoke inhalation.

The fire has been deemed suspicious and police have taken the occupant of the burnt unit into custody.