Firefighters battled a major blaze in Downtown Hamilton on Saturday morning.
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said three aerial units, and as many as 45 firefighters at one point, battled the multiple alarm structure fire which involved a vacant commercial building at King and Caroline Streets.
Cunliffe said they received the call at 6:02 a.m.
He added that no one was injured, but walls on all four sides of the former Hamilton Store Fixtures collapsed, and crews will be on scene throughout the day and into Saturday evening.
“This is a century building”, said Cunliffe, “heavy wood timber inside, so heavy fire load and that’s what created a deep seated fire for us.”
There no word yet on cause, but Cunliffe said the fire marshall’s office has been notified.
The fire briefly spread to a neighbouring building at 20 George St.
“While we were fighting this fire, we had a fire directly to the south on one of the balconies”, said Cunliffe, “we got that fire out with minimal damage to the balcony.
Heavy smoke from the fire drifted east, and even across Hamilton mountain on Saturday morning.
For a period of time, residents were urged to keep their windows closed.