Downtown area marred by mid-day fire Monday

Emergency crews responded to a house fire in the core area just before lunch time.

Viewers alerted Global News to the blaze on the northwest corner of Balmoral Street and Cumberland Avenue around 11:40 a.m.

A neighbour told reporters that the rooming house is a problem location and is known to area residents as a drug house.

Several fire trucks attended. City police tweeted over the lunch hour asking people to avoid the area.

There has been no word so far on injuries, the extent of damage, or the cause of the fire.

PHOTOS: view images taken at the scene of the fire