Several people have sustained burns – two seriously – after a fire at a correctional centre in the Hunter region overnight.

About 8.20pm (Thursday 9 June 2016), emergency services were called to a correctional facility at Cessnock, responding to reports of a fire within a cell.

Two male inmates – aged 21 and 24 – received serious burns and were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics. The men were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Twelve Corrective Services officers were treated at various hospitals within the Hunter region for smoke inhalation; two were also being treated for burns.

A number of prisoners were assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics for also for smoke inhalation.

Detectives from the Central Hunter Local Area Command are investigating.