No injuries in low-rise Hamilton apartment fire

Photo: Andrew Collins

Hamilton fire fighters battled an early morning fire, Sunday, for several hours as flames and heavy smoke filled a third floor apartment at a three-storey building.

Fire crews were called to a kitchen fire at 123 Emerald Street South in the Stinson neighbourhood, south of Main Street East between Victoria Avenue North and Wentworth Street North, just before 2:30 a.m.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames shooting from a third floor, south facing window.

The two men and one woman living in the apartment were not hurt. Everyone living in the building was evacuated while crews worked quickly to knock down the fire.

“There were no injuries reported to the public or firefighters,” said Claudio Mostacci, Hamilton Fire spokesperson in a media release. “Unfortunately a family pet cat did perish in the fire.”

The blaze was contained to one apartment but smoke spread to neighbouring units inside the building.

Seven units were on the scene to battle the blaze. Fire crews were pulling charred material from the apartment and dousing it with water to ensure all the flames were put out.

Hamilton paramedics and police also responded to the fire.

“The cause of the fire has been determined to be unattended cooking,” said Mostacci in a statement. “The Hamilton Fire Department reminds all citizens to always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking.”

Damage to the apartment is estimated to be $35,000.