Police are investigating a suspicious fire which tore through eight shops at Umina Mall early on Sunday morning.

Emergency services were called to the centre on Ocean Beach Rd about 2:15am and arrived to find the eight-shop complex well alight.

Up to 60 firefighters were involved in trying to contain the blaze with crews from around the Coast and as far as Newcastle in attendance.

media_camera Up to 60 fire crews were called to the fire at the Umina Mall. Picture: Fire & Rescue Kariong

media_camera The blaze started about 2.15am on Sunday. Picture: Fire & Rescue Kariong

Further crews from Castle Hill and Gladesville were on standby as the very large scale incident triggered a “fourth alarm”.

By 9.10am crews had the inferno under control but it spread into the roof where insulation continued to burn for several hours.

Brisbane Water Police were called and established a crime scene, however the charred remains of the building has since been released back to the owner.

While the cause of the fire is still to be determined, it is being treated as suspicious.

“It will until we can determine otherwise,” Chief Inspector John Zdrilic said.

Anyone with information is urged to come forward.

There were no reports of any injuries.