Fire at downtown apartment causes $50K in damage

A one-unit apartment was damaged Monday in an early morning fire in downtown Hamilton.

The Hamilton Fire Department said the fire broke out on the seventh floor of Berkshire Apartments, at 172 Bay St. S. near Duke Street, around 1:20 a.m.

It was soon upgraded to multiple alarm, and the 11-storey building was evacuated.

An interior attack and search and rescue was initiated," the department told The Spectator. Fire crews also searched adjoining units.

The department issued an update on Twitter at 2 a.m. saying the fire had been brought under control and crews were working on ventilation. The department told The Spec no injuries were reported.

Damage due to heat and smoke is estimated at $50,000 and the cause of the blaze is still being determined.

The department said the office of the Fire Marshal has not been called in to investigate.

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com