Forensic officers will investigate a mysterious fire which engulfed a unit complex in Narrabundah in the early hours of Monday morning.
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More than 30 people were forced out onto the street after fire broke out in the block of units in Mindarie Street around 2.30am.
Firefighters, paramedics and police were called to the scene.
Crews desperately tried to stop the blaze from spreading to adjoining units.
Firefighters in the Bronto aerial appliance provided crews with visual updates from above the building while others worked to extinguish hot spots from the outside due to concerns about the safety of the unit block's structure.
The adjacent units sustained minor damage while the unit where the fire broke out was destroyed.
The damage bill is estimated to be around $500,000.
The cause of the fire unknown. ACT Fire and Rescue have handed the scene over to ACT Policing forensics officers to investigate.
HAZMAT crews undertook atmospheric monitoring before allowing residents back into their homes.
Narrabundah residents close to Mindarie Street, especially those with breathing difficulties, are advised to keep their windows and doors closed this morning due to smoke in the air.
"There is no danger to the community from the smoke. This advice is simply to prevent the smoke or the smell of it from entering homes," an ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesperson said in a statement.
