A man has died and investigations are underway following a fire in Maitland this morning, which police are treating as suspicious.

About 1.50am (Friday 20 February 2015), emergency services were called to a demountable building on Elizabeth Street, Wallalong (about 13km north east of Maitland), following reports of a fire.

Officers attached to NSW Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the blaze.

The body of a man was located in the building. It is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be the 72-year-old resident.

A crime scene has been established and officers attached to Central Hunter Local Area Command are investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to be suspicious.

As police continue their inquiries into the circumstances leading up to the incident, they are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.