Emergency services were called to Survey Street, Lennox Head, just after 1am on Sunday morning (October 14) after reports that a house was well alight.
On arrival, police evacuated four people from the house and three people from a neighbouring property.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire which destroyed the two homes.
One of the residents – a 28-year-old man – was taken to hospital for minor smoke inhalation. Two police officers also suffered smoke inhalation but did not require treatment.
As crews worked to extinguish the blaze, the fire spread to the neighbouring property. Two other homes sustained smoke and water damage.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Police from Richmond Police District are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.