Four people have managed to escape without serious injury after they jumped from the third floor of a burning apartment building in Newcastle.

At 10pm on Tuesday night, emergency service crews were called to Parkway Avenue at Cooks Hill to reports of a unit complex on fire.

Fire crews battled the blaze at the unit on Tuesday night. (Supplied: Carey Harris)

When crews arrived, they saw four people jump from the top level to the ground.

“It was pretty hectic when we got here, to have people that scared for their safety, they’ve jumped out of the third-storey building is quite dark and frightening,” Inspector Craig Clark said.

A 47-year-old woman, three men aged 43, 50 and 58 who jumped were treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

Firefighters removed a 62-year-old man from the 2nd level with smoke inhalation. 

Adam Telfer, who lives in the building, jumped from the second floor of the apartment block. (Supplied: Carey Harris)

Newcastle resident Adam Telfer was in bed on the second floor of the apartment block when the fire broke out.

“I heard someone yell out, ‘fire,’ and I ran to the lounge room. I went out the front door and this big flame came up the stairway, so I had to shut my door.

“I just ran and jumped out the window,”

Mr Telfer said he was lucky to get away with a few grazes on his arms and legs and avoid going to hospital.

“People are a lot worse jumping out the window on this side,” he said.

“The flames were coming up. There was no hope for us.”

Several rooms in the unit block have been destroyed. (ABC Newcastle: Nakita Jager)

Fire inspector Andrew Dunkin said jumping from the building was the best option.

“They did suffer injuries, but it’s better than suffering smoke inhalation,” he said.

“It could have been a lot worse. The injuries aren’t life-threatening.”

Detectives are investigating the cause of the blaze. (ABC Newcastle: Nakita Jager)

The cause of the fire is under investigation.