Fire at Hackett unit on Haddon Street

While no one was at home at the unit at the time of the fire, the residents of two of three adjoining units were forced to leave their homes.

There have been no reports of injuries.

ACT firefighters were called to the unit fire on Haddon Street at 6pm on Sunday. They had contained it by 6.50pm and extinguished it by 7.40pm.

The Emergency Services Agency said the fire extended from the second storey to the roof.

Three pumpers, the breathing apparatus van, bronto aerial unit and two commanders were at the scene. The ACT Ambulance Service was also on site.

Commander Greg Mason said residents who were evacuated from the two downstairs units would not get back inside on Sunday night because crews had to cut power to the block.

It was too early to determine the cause of the blaze, he said.

Neighbours huddled outside in heavy rain and hail as firefighters retrieved some of their belongings from their units.

They said the upstairs unit was well alight when firefighters arrived and doubted any items inside would be salvaged.

Naomi Sheffield, who lived with her boyfriend and their two dogs in the unit below the blaze, said she had smelled smoke before they fled outside.

"It was scary. I felt like I couldn't breathe from coughing," she said.

She said Housing ACT had been contacted to find alternative accommodation until residents were allowed back inside.

The agency said it would "hand the scene to ACT Policing" after completing final operations.