About 50 firefighters are still trying to extinguish the fire on Darling Street in Rozelle after it engulfed a convenience store at four this morning.
Firefighters are concerned there may still be people inside the building as they have not been able to search it.
About 50 firefighters are still trying to extinguish the blaze on Darling Street in Rozelle after a blaze engulfed a convenience store at 4am.
Rescue Superintendent Paul Johnstone said authorities had been unable to account for everyone in the building.
"There are three people who are unaccounted for at this stage and we do have fears for their wellbeing," he said.
He said they could include a mother and child, who lived in the units adjoining the convenience store.
"Any call at that time in the morning is a concern for firefighters," he said.
"At 4am you are always assuming people are inside and asleep."
Neighbour Anthony Carroll, who lost everything in the fire, said there were concerns for the mother and her baby.
"I just hope they stayed somewhere else last night," he said.
Authorities were attempting to establish their whereabouts.
Supt Johnstone said the first responding firefighters described the scene as resembling a Hollywood production.
Residents living near the store were forced to flee with only the clothes on their back and some people leapt from the second storey to the ground.
Another man was pulled out of the rubble.
He was completely covered by debris, with only his hands showing and firefighters had to dig him out by hand, said Supt Johnstone.
"He is injured but otherwise in good condition," he said.
Mr Carroll was asleep in a unit next door where he lived with his father when he heard a massive explosion.
"Within 30 seconds my room was full of smoke," he said.
"I just grabbed what I've got on and got out of there.
"There were people screaming and yelling and people trapped in the place next door so it was pandemonium.
"No one knew what was going on. I've been a bit emotional about it.
"I'm lucky, it made me appreciate how lucky we are to live in a country like this because there are people that wake up to this every minute of the day.
"God knows what it was."
Mr Carroll said three men lived in the unit above the convenience store and one was covered in blood when he escaped.
Three men were taken to hospital, including the convenience store employee who was pulled from the rubble.
All men have non-life threatening injuries.
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