UPDATE: Fire rips through 10th floor of Vanier Towers on Hess Street

Flames ripped through a 10th-floor apartment in a CityHousing highrise in downtown Hamilton on Thursday night.

Rattled tenants gathered outside of the 18-storey Vanier Towers at 95 Hess St. S. as firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out around 8 p.m.

The fire in the apartment and on its balcony were well-involved when firefighters arrived, but in an emailed statement Chief Dave Cunliffe said an aggressive approach brought it under control quickly.

There were no reported injuries. Both the apartment and the balcony sustained significant damage.

Richard Gundy said he had just left his 10th-floor apartment to go for a walk when a couple walking down Hess called out, Fire!"

I looked up and there's flames shooting up the balcony," he said.

Gundy, 60, said he ran in to alert the building security staff about the fire.

The flames were burning up the apartment across the hall from him, where a woman lives.

She came running out crying," said Gundy, who has lived in the building for about 11 years.

Several fire trucks lined the street as police blocked off the intersections around the building to traffic.

Tenants and neighbours watched as firefighters ventilated the building.

The building department has be called in due to some structural damage to the balcony. The apartment directly below the fire also sustained some water damage.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and estimated damage is set at approximately $100,000. The Red Cross has been called in to assist the occupant of the burned apartment with temporary lodging.

Gundy said he figured his apartment wouldn't be damaged, only a little smoky.

But he was anxious to get back in to check on his cat, Gizmo.

My cat was sound asleep when I came out."

Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based city hall reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com