A suspicious fire in the underground car park of an apartment block at Coogee has forced the evacuation of residents.

About two dozen people still can’t return to their Coogee apartment block, hours after a suspicious fire in a basement car park at 1am on Wednesday.

The blackened entrance to the car park is cordoned off with tape as police guard the scene of this two storey unit block.

About 25 people had to flee the property when flames broke out in the basement area, destroying one vehicle and damaging others just before one this morning.

One neighbour could hear explosions as the fire ripped through and says others from nearby homes were knocking on doors to check people were safe.

Police believe this fire was deliberately started and they’re asking for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or have dash cam footage to come forward.